topic Re: Did you take a disaster distribution... in Deductions & credits

Did you take a disaster distribution...

CaNj — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 11:20:22 GMT

Trying to file on my own for the first time. Turbotax asks "Did you take a disaster distribution..." This distribution doesn't mean the money that was sent from the IRS as part of the "Economic Impact Payment?

Turbotax seems to ask whether you took money out from your retirement because of covid and other disaster.

Re: Did you take a disaster distribution...

DanP0428 — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 02:54:45 GMT

Under the CARES act you could take money from your retirement and not have a penalty for early withdrawal. The tax could be paid over a 3 year period. You would know if you took advantage of that.

Re: Did you take a disaster distribution...

CaNj — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 02:56:50 GMT

DanP0428:

Thank you for your clarification!

Gratefully,

CaNj

Re: Did you take a disaster distribution...

DawnC — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 03:47:03 GMT

The disaster distributions being asked about there in TurboTax would have been reported to you on Form 1099-R. If you did not receive that form, you can answer NO. Assuming this is the first year you are filing a tax return, you would not have received this income in the past.

Re: When you take a distribution not related to a disaster

hollymolly123 — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 00:19:43 GMT

2022 tax error on Form 8915-F with 1099-R distribution not related to a disaster:

I have 1099-R with a contribution removal, not related to a disaster. I clicked "No" to the question of ".... take a distribution at anytime between 2018 and 2021?" But the TurboTax errors out due to the unfinished Form 8915. I tried the step-by-step instruction of clicking Done with Income" in Wages... tab and No to the question again and again. That did not work.

Re: When you take a distribution not related to a disaster

Cynthiad66 — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 14:48:03 GMT

Let's try to delete the form 8915-F. Follow these steps.

Use these steps to delete "Form 8915-F" and "Qualified 2020 Disaster Retirement Distr" and then go back to the retirement section and reenter the information:

Open or continue your return in TurboTax.
In the left menu, select "Tax Tools" and then "Tools".
In the pop-up window Tool Center, select "Delete a form".
Select "Delete" next to "Form 8915-F" and "Qualified 2020 Disaster Retirement Distr" and follow the instructions.
Click on the "Search" on the top and type “1099-R”
Click on “Jump to 1099-R”
If you do not have any 2022 1099-R answer "No" to "Did you get a 1099-R in 2022?" (If you have any other 1099-R then enter all 1099-R and after entering your last 1099-R click "Continue" on the “Review your 1099-R info” screen)
Answer "Yes" to the "Have you ever taken a disaster distribution before 2022?" screen
Answer "Yes" to "Did you take a 2020 Qualified Disaster Distribution?"
Check the box next to "If this was a Coronavirus-related distribution reported in 2020 check here" and enter your information.

Re: When you take a distribution not related to a disaster

hollymolly123 — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 17:14:20 GMT

Step 8 and 9, you said, Yes to the questions. The distribution is not disaster related, but an excess removal.Do I still click Yes to these?

Re: When you take a distribution not related to a disaster

BrittanyS — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 17:28:47 GMT

Correct, if you took advantage of the early withdrawal without penalties, allowed under Cares Act, and the tax is to be paid back over the three periods, you will mark yes to the qualified disaster distribution questions.

@hollymolly123

Re: When you take a distribution not related to a disaster

hollymolly123 — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 17:36:08 GMT

To clarify my question, I cannot use Form 8915-F.

But TurboTax is showing "Form 8915-F-S not Done? and the Smart Run check shows an error in the form. I am unable to fix it.

Re: When you take a distribution not related to a disaster

hollymolly123 — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 17:39:23 GMT

I read your post after I posted mine. If I have to say "Yes" to the disaster related distribution, then what year should I say Yes to, 2022?

Re: When you take a distribution not related to a disaster

hollymolly123 — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 18:36:13 GMT

Hi,

I found why I am having this Form 8915-F problem after talking to Vanguard.

The Vanguard tax team said, the code has to be 8J together. But TurboTax is taking it as 8 and J as it takes the values from the dropdown list. The code J as separate is causing my problem.

I am over 59.5 years old with over 10 years in ROTH. My distribution is not disaster related, but excess removal. I cannot say Yes to the question, "...related to disater...." I do not have FEMA # or have not had any impact from Covid. Is it possible to convey this possible bug to TurboTax tech team to add 8J in the box 7 dropdown list? Thank you!

Re: When you take a distribution not related to a disaster

DanaB27 — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 19:03:46 GMT

I cannot recreate that Form 1099-R with codes 8 and J is triggering a disaster distribution. Please check the follow-up questions that you didn't accidentally select it was a disaster distribution. Also, if you get the 10% early withdrawal penalty calculated then make sure you enter the earnings from box 2a under "Another reason" to get the exception.

Login to your TurboTax Account
Click on the "Search" on the top right and type “1099-R”
Click on “Jump to 1099-R”
Click "edit" to review your Form 1099-R and the follow-up questions
Click "Continue" on the “Review your 1099-R info” screen
Answer "No" to the "Have you ever taken a disaster distribution before 2022?" screen
Continue until "Did you use your IRA to pay for any of these expenses?" screen and enter the amount from box 2a under "Another reason" since you are over 59 1/2

@hollymolly123

Re: When you take a distribution not related to a disaster

hollymolly123 — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 20:50:04 GMT

I did not accidently select Disaster distribution. Looks like TurboTax links the form 8915-F if the 1099R box7 code has J. Once the form is attached to 1099R, TT shows an error for the form not done even though I answered No to the disaster related questions. Isn't this a bug in TurboTax?

Re: When you take a distribution not related to a disaster

DanaB27 — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 21:00:27 GMT

I cannot recreate this issue and it would be helpful to have a TurboTax ".tax2022" file that is experiencing this issue. You can send us a “diagnostic” file that has your “numbers” but not your personal information. If you would like to do this, here are the instructions for TurboTax Online:

From the left menu select Tax Tools.
Then select Tools below Tax Tools.
A window will pop up which says Tools Center.
On this screen, select Share my file with Agent.
You will see a message explaining what the diagnostic copy is. Click okay through this screen and then you will get a Token number.
Reply to this thread with your Token number. This will allow us to open a copy of your return without seeing any personal information.

The instructions for TurboTax Download:

On your menu bar at the very top, click "Online"
Select "Send Tax File to Agent"
Click "Send"
The pop-up will have a token number
Reply to this thread with your Token number. This will allow us to open a copy of your return without seeing any personal information.

We will then be able to see exactly what you are seeing and we can determine what exactly is going on in your return and provide you with a resolution.

@hollymolly123

Re: When you take a distribution not related to a disaster

hollymolly123 — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 21:27:07 GMT

Thanks @DanaB27 , this is resolved.

This is what I did and it cleared the error:

- Select "Form 8915E Wks"

- Uncheck box C (it was checked), "if you received any distribution in 2022 related to a disaster that occurred in 2021 or 2022. Check this box."

After unchecking this, the error was gone so are the forms.

I did not even have to delete the forms, 8915-F or 8915E Wks.

Thanks @DanaB27 again.

Re: When you take a distribution not related to a disaster

patti91 — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 05:30:33 GMT

Thank you!! I was having the same issue and this worked!

Re: Did you take a disaster distribution...

jerasa — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 19:01:18 GMT

How can I change my response to this question, got confused and answer yes but don't even have IRA accounts.

Please help

Re: Did you take a disaster distribution...

DanaB27 — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 20:24:44 GMT

If you are getting the error in the review that you have not finished Form 8915-F then you will need to delete the "Qualified 2020 Disaster Retirement Distribution and Repayment Worksheet" (8915E wks) to remove the error.

In TurboTax Desktop:

Switch to Forms mode on the top
Scroll down and select "8915E wks" (can be 8915E-T or 8915E-S)
Click "delete" and confirm the deletion
Switch to Step-by-Step and run the smart check again

In TurboTax Online:

Open or continue your return in TurboTax.
In the left menu, select "Tax Tools" and then "Tools".
In the pop-up window Tool Center, select "Delete a form".
Select "Delete" next to "Qualified 2020 Disaster Retirement Distr" and follow the instructions.

@jerasa

Re: Did you take a disaster distribution...

hollymolly123 — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 23:34:23 GMT

@jerasa ,

That, answering to Yes/No to the question, does not matter.

Click Forms, delete the form, 8915F, enter 8915, select 8915E Wks, the worksheet.

In the worksheet, you should find questions like this, "if you received any distribution in 2022 related to a disaster that occurred in 2021 or 2022. Check this box."

Uncheck the boxes if checked, ( C for my case).

Re: Did you take a disaster distribution...

Brian_Kennedy — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 05:31:18 GMT

I did not have a disaster distribution, the review at the end is still saying error having me complete disaster distribution form(?) will not let me delete form or correct error(?)

Let me know what I need to do to fix the error.