topic Re: 8915-F Coronavirus Disaster Code in Retirement tax questions

8915-F Coronavirus Disaster Code

molliejeanners — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 07:14:44 GMT

I'm trying to file my federal taxes, as I've been waiting for form 8915-F to be available to e-file through Turbotax. Now it's sending me into a loop asking me for a FEMA disaster code. However, on the IRS site, it's stating that I need to just click a box for the Coronavirus, but since the distribution was done in 2020 under the CARES Act there is no disaster code or name. I called and talked to someone, who did nothing but send me the IRS instructions. I'd really like to actually file since I've been waiting on this form for over a month now.

Re: 8915-F Coronavirus Disaster Code

FangxiaL — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 02:50:21 GMT

There should be no FEMA code.

Re: 8915-F Coronavirus Disaster Code

molliejeanners — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 02:53:45 GMT

@FangxiaL I’ve checked that box, and it’s still stating I need a name and code to e-file.

Re: 8915-F Coronavirus Disaster Code

FangxiaL — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 03:14:00 GMT

I don't see anywhere it is asking me for the FEMA code.

Try to follow these steps:

Click on Wrap up income at the bottom of the Income & Expenses section
Proceed to the screen shown below and then return to IRA, 401(k), Pension Plan Withdrawals (1099-R).

Re: 8915-F Coronavirus Disaster Code

maortiz — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 05:13:30 GMT

I'm having the same issue, it keeps asking me for a fema code after it does the scan to make sure my return doesn't have any errors

Re: 8915-F Coronavirus Disaster Code

JulieS — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 12:58:29 GMT

You can enter the word "None" in this field and you will clear the error.

@molliejeanners @maortiz

Re: 8915-F Coronavirus Disaster Code

Moana1 — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 16:53:43 GMT

I am having the same issue. The coronavirus related distributions box is already checked. I am being asked for a disaster name and number at the Federal Review step when checking for errors. Why are we being told to enter the word “none” when this section was left blank on my previous year’s tax return? This seems like an error that needs to be corrected especially since we’ve waited so long for this form.

Re: 8915-F Coronavirus Disaster Code

JamesG1 — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 21:31:41 GMT

Appendix B Qualified Disaster Areas by Year from Instructions for Form 8915-F states:

Virus SARS-CoV-2 or coronavirus disease 2019 (referred to collectively in these instructions as coronavirus)

Are you able to enter 'Coronavirus' or 'Virus SARS-CoV-2' and pass Federal Review?

@Moana1

Re: 8915-F Coronavirus Disaster Code

Dee4817 — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 12:17:29 GMT

@JamesG1 Thank you! That's what I did to clear the error message and proceed. However, it specifically says on the form "Don't list the coronavirus in item C". Hopefully it will be okay.

Re: 8915-F Coronavirus Disaster Code

Dee4817 — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 12:19:47 GMT

@JulieS Thank you! I entered Covid Distribution instead of a FEMA number (even though the form specifically says do not list the coronavirus in Item C. It was the only way to clear the error message and move on. Hope this will be okay.

Re: 8915-F Coronavirus Disaster Code

CKO1969 — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 15:59:54 GMT

Which amount do I enter from my 1099-R? Do I enter 1/3 of the amount in Box 1 of 1099-R, or the total amount? I would be helpful to have prompts for 8915-F.

Re: 8915-F Coronavirus Disaster Code

JamesG1 — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 17:28:03 GMT

Are you entering IRS Form 1099-R information or Qualified 2020 Disaster Distribution information at the screen Did you take a 2020 Qualified Disaster Distribution?

IRS Form 8915 information is entered at the screen Did you take a 2020 Qualified Disaster Distribution? I was able to report Qualified 2020 Disaster Distributions from Part II and Part III from the 2020 8915-E by following these steps.

Go to Federal / Wages & Income / Retirement Plans and Social Security / IRA, 401(k), Pension Plan Withdrawals (1099-R).
Click Start / Revisit to the right.
At the screen Did you receive any 1099-R forms? select No.
At the screen Have you ever taken a disaster distribution before 2021?, Click Yes.
At the screen Did you take a 2020 Qualified Disaster Distribution?, enter 8915-E information.

I also reported that:

I did not repay any 2020 Qualified Disaster Distribution in 2021.
I did not report a disaster distribution in 2017, 2018 or 2019.

You may view the distributions on the 2021 Federal 1040 tax return at Tax Tools / Tools / View Tax Summary / Preview my 1040. You may view Form 8915-F at Tax Tools / Print Center / Print, save or preview this year's return / Include government and TurboTax worksheets.

Form 8915-F Part II distributions may be found on line 5b of the 2021 Federal 1040 tax return. The distribution is not reflected in box 5a. See entries for Part II of Form 8915-F on lines 12, 13 and 15.

Form 8915-F Part III distributions may be found on line 4b of the 2021 Federal 1040 tax return. The distribution is not reflected in box 4a. See entries for Part III of Form 8915-F on lines 23, 24 and 26.

Re: 8915-F Coronavirus Disaster Code

jgirkin11 — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 18:48:18 GMT

hoping you can help me here.

My input on the the "Total Qualified Disaster Distribution Reported in 2020" screen was $10,000 on the "2020 Form 8915E, Line 17" line. Why did this amount not transfer to my 2021 Return Form 8915F line 23?

Re: 8915-F Coronavirus Disaster Code

DianeW777 — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 20:44:00 GMT

The IRS used Form 8915-E in 2020 and created the new Form 8915-F or 2021. It was very late being released (March 24th) which was causing delays for taxpayers who needed the form to complete their tax returns. You can use your 2020 Form 8915-E, then follow the steps provide by our Tax Expert @JamesG1, to complete your form.

@jgirkin11

Re: 8915-F Coronavirus Disaster Code

kelbee — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 19:39:02 GMT

My prompts are not matching up with what the expert recommended. He said to say "no" when it asked if I received a 1099-R this year in order to prompt the other Coronovirus-related questions. However, I did receive an unrelated 1099-R for a 401K withdrawal taken in 2021. I've entered that information but am unclear how to enter the one-third I need to enter from my 2020 withdrawal. Also, I'm using the online program not the software if that helps.

Re: 8915-F Coronavirus Disaster Code

JamesG1 — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 22:36:31 GMT

Follow these steps in TurboTax online.

After entering the 1099-R information you arrive at a screen Here's your 1099-R info. Click Continue.
Is the next screen Have you ever taken a disaster distribution before 2021? Select Yes. Click Continue.
At the screen Did you take a 2020 Qualified Disaster Distribution?, enter 8915F and 8915E information. Click Continue.
There will be additional screen about 2017, 2018 and 2019 distributions. Answer as required.
If you see the screen Did you take a disaster distribution at any time between 2018 and 2020? you are instructed to select YES if you need to report 1/3 of the amount of your distribution from a prior year. That has already been done. Select No, I didn't.

@kelbee

Re: 8915-F Coronavirus Disaster Code

jcn35_99 — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 06:49:15 GMT

I'm not getting the messages as the expert lists them.

I mark no on a withdrawal for 2021 from my 401k and then it asks about the COVID distribution in former years and I click yes and continue but it doesn't ask about form 8915-F instead I get a message saying I have to "visit the Form 1099-R Retirement topic" in under wages and income under federal tax section. Note I have $0 listed under this.

While the pdf of my 2021 taxes is showing that the program did use 8915-F it is causing a problem on my PA taxes. I paid the state taxes owed on the full amount of the withdrawal in my 2020 Pa taxes so why do I need a 1099-R form now.

It keeps asking me to put in payer, recipient and amount on the form. If I leave it blank it gives me an error message on the federal tax review so how do I remove it from both tax filings?

Re: 8915-F Coronavirus Disaster Code

jcn35_99 — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 06:53:41 GMT

I forgot to also note I'm using TurboTax CD for Mac - if that makes a difference.

Re: 8915-F Coronavirus Disaster Code

AmyC — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 22:32:02 GMT

PA dealt with the entire distribution last year. There is nothing COVID related to distribution on your PA return. There should not be a 1099-R question. Neither should you have a 1099-R in the federal. For the federal section, you go to the 1099-R section and answer the questions about the distribution but there is no 1099-R to enter.

PA Coronavirus Aid, Relief, & Economic Security (CARES) Act

Let's double check the federal steps you took:

Get a copy of your 2020 form 8915-E
Open your return
Go to the Federal Income section
Scroll down to retirement plans
Select the IRA, 401k, Pension, start/edit
Did you receive a 1099-R, no
Did you take a disaster distribution?, yes
Qualified 2020, yes
Coronavirus related distribution, check the box
answer using your 8915-E, line 4b or 5b from 2020. You will enter 1/3 of the distribution on either line 9 or line 17. Leave the other lines blank.
Click done with income
Did you take a disaster distribution any time between 2018-2020? No - this seems wrong but you have already answered the question and don't want to loop around.

@jcn35_99 You may need to Contact Us

Re: 8915-F Coronavirus Disaster Code

LMLC — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 18:54:29 GMT

This is happening to me, except Turbotax does NOT catch the issue; it tells me everything is correct. When I submit my Federal taxes I get a rejection regarding this code that I can't seem to find in the TurboTax software to correct! All my info is input as shown in all these fixes listed. VERY FRUSTRATING!!!!!!!!