Turbotax informed me that my CA state return needs fixing in order to e-file.
So I chose ‘Fix CA Return”
1. The “Check This Entry” screen says “Form 3853 - Health Coverage Exemption: Exemption Certificate Number must be entered since you have selected an exemption.......”
Since I don’t have ECN, I entered “No ECN”.
2.“Check This Entry” screen says “Form 3853 - Health Coverage Exemption: Exemption Certificate Number or No or Pending ECN should be entered but not both.”
I erased the previous entry “No ECN” in (1), since “No ECN” is already selected from the drop down menu.
The screen goes back to (1), which says “Form 3853 - Health Coverage Exemption: Exemption Certificate Number must be entered since you have selected an exemption.......”
I seem to be caught in an infinite loop, and believe that this is an error in the Turbotax program.
Please advise how I would be able to fix this, so I may e-file?
I am in the same loop for the CA health coverage exemption. Trying to efile also. Following for a fix.
I have this issue and have paused filing my state tax because of it. I selected "No ECN" and so I shouldn't have to enter it...
anyone find a resolution to this? I've tried every combination I can think of - and it just keeps kicking me out of eFile.
I am having the same issue trying to file now 4./14/22 anything no problem taking your payment though?
I'm a California filer and was trying to resolve the "No ECN" error when I was eFiling.
Open your return and navigate to the following section.
State Taxes -> Continue -> Edit -> Credits and Taxes -> Health Insurance Penalty -> Revisit
Q. Did you all have insurance coverage in 2021?
A.
"None of us had it at any point" << this was my selection >>
If you answered like this to the question about insurance and clicked continue, then the next screen is very important and related to the error during eFile. It's not a TurboTax bug per se, it's in how the state prepared the forms and it's easy to miss some important clarifying text on the TurboTax screen.
Click
<CONTINUE>
once you've answered the "Did you all have insurance coverage in 2021?"
The 4 groups of checkboxes on the next screen are important and related to the issue.
If you checked ANY of the boxes in the 2nd group ("Exemptions granted by the Marketplace (Requires an Exemption Certificate Number)" - you will have this issue. I had incorrectly checked the " Coverage was considered unaffordable
This is not tax advice - this was my solution to the problem that so many seem to be struggling with.
Good Luck
see my comment below yours - maybe it will help. Good luck!
I have no number for the form 3853 so it won’t let me efile. It already took my money for the fee. How do I efile?
Hi Mathisenrob,
If your problem was the same as mine (cannot eFile) - then you need to review the following section of your State Return.
Follow these clicks within Turbo Tax and check to make sure you didn't accidentally click the boxes that require an ECN.
State Taxes -> Continue -> Edit -> Credits and Taxes -> Health Insurance Penalty -> Revisit
In my case, my return was complete and when I attempted to transmit the return, Turbo Tax stopped me and said something to effect of "We have to ask you one more thing...." and it took me back to the 3853 "No ECN" problem and acted like I MUST enter an ECN even though I chose the "No ECN" option from the drop-down.
The reason Turbo Tax was doing this, was because I had checked a box in during the "Health Insurance Penalty Q&A" that resulted in the choice "No ECN" being problematic. I had to remove the check from the box with the following title: " Coverage was considered unaffordable
Best of luck!
Although the instructions state select all hardships which apply, only 1 selection is necessary. Simply select plan unaffordable (i.e., code M) in order to get rid of the error.
i have whats called Mdei-Share, i was told that is does qualify under the affordable care act, but because its not technically insurance i get an exemption letter not a 1095 form, but it has no exemption number. how do i file this without fined? and if i get the ECN where do i put it? please help me
Since you're in California and this is for your California return, you'll get your ECN from Covered California, the California healthcare marketplace.
In California, ECN stands for Exemption Certificate Number.
You can also try to chat with them using the link below. They are the only entity that will be able to assist you.