topic TurboTax Desktop Bug - Illinois 529 Accounts in State tax filing

TurboTax Desktop Bug - Illinois 529 Accounts

vaan — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 00:01:45 GMT

Illinois changed program managers in September of 2024. As a result, account numbers changed. The new account numbers are alphanumeric with the format A9XXXXXXXXX-01

After I run the error checker it complains that the college account savings number 'should only contain numbers'. This is incorrect. The software should allow for both the old and new formats (The old account format was numeric only)

Re: TurboTax Desktop Bug - Illinois 529 Accounts

MarilynG1 — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 20:52:12 GMT

Try typing in the new account number for your Illinois 529 account without the leading letter A and without the hyphen.

Do you get an error when you run your State Review or are you referring to the Form Errors in View Forms in TurboTax Desktop?

Re: TurboTax Desktop Bug - Illinois 529 Accounts

vaan — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:17:55 GMT

This error appears when I run state review (see screenshot)

Without the leading A and the hyphen the error does not pop-up (because then only numbers remain. But that's not the point, state review should allow for account number to have the leading A and hyphen.

Here are some excerpts from the letter that the program manager (TIAA-CREF) send to accountholders:

When Bright Start 529 transitoned to a new program manager on September 30, 2024, account holders were
assigned new account numbers. As such, each Bright Start 529 account that was open prior to September 27,
2024, has a minimum of two account numbers associated with it during the 2024 calendar year:

1. A 9-digit numeric account number valid through September 27, 2024
2. An 11-digit alphanumeric account number valid from September 30, 2024, onward

For the 2024 tax year only, taxpayers who made contributons to their Bright Start 529 account both before
and afer September 27, 2024, will need to enter the account number valid through September 27, 2024, and
the account number valid from September 30, 2024, onward – along with the corresponding amounts
contributed to each - on the 2024 Illinois 1040 Tax Form, Schedule M (see below for example)

Please note: Reportng this informaton incorrectly could result in a delay in processing your 2024 Illinois state
tax return.

Re: TurboTax Desktop Bug - Illinois 529 Accounts

RobertB4444 — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 18:57:19 GMT

The forms that require only numbers instead of letters usually do so because the information is transmitted to be read in a field that doesn't allow for letters. Illinois may not allow the letter.

Based on the entries that you've made here the new account number is 11 digits plus that A. The letter that you've included from the account manager describes the new account number as an 11 digit number. So it would seem that the 11 digit number doesn't need the A in order to be the account number of record. I would think you could leave the A off. But if you are not certain then you should contact the account manager and make certain that Illinois requires that A.

@vaan

Re: TurboTax Desktop Bug - Illinois 529 Accounts

Zelly72 — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 02:38:09 GMT

I am having the same issue. The account number is 11 characters with the letter.

Re: TurboTax Desktop Bug - Illinois 529 Accounts

GeneO — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 17:36:19 GMT

The Intuit TurboTax program error still has not been fixed. I have texted and called numerous times, see case numbers:

# 1541360191,

# 1538781503,

#1540675484.

I received an e-mail that each was closed, BUT it is not corrected as of today's latest program update. When will someone finally fix this program error?

Re: TurboTax Desktop Bug - Illinois 529 Accounts

CatinaT1 — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 20:52:30 GMT

If you continue to have problems please call TurboTax Customer service.  Here is a link:  Turbo Tax Customer Service

Re: TurboTax Desktop Bug - Illinois 529 Accounts

vaan — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 23:10:19 GMT

@CatinaT1 I’m sorry but asking to call is not helpful. I’m a software engineer and It’s very disappointing that there’s no way to directly submit a verified bug report. As the poster above mentioned this has been reported multiple times already.

FWIW Illinois just opened their free filing website and in their online form it doesn’t have the form validation error that TurboTax has for the account field.

I was willing to pay for the State E-filing with TurboTax just so that I didn’t have to re-enter all the data, but at this point looks like that’s what I would have to do.

Re: TurboTax Desktop Bug - Illinois 529 Accounts

vaan — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:00:55 GMT

One month later and this bug still has not been fixed. The 529 plan manager just send email about this. Seems they are aware of this issue and they suggested a workaround by not entering the letter and the dash: