Where do you enter a EC credit into the MA state forms

[johnreynolds11_1]

Held desk says "TurboTax does not include MA Schedule EC. You need to download the form from the MA DOR website, complete it manually, and enter the credit amount in TurboTax."  but where do you enter that credit?

[rrroy62]

Hey John,

I had the same problem today.  I found that you will need to go into Massachusetts Credits and enter the amount under 'Business related non-refundable credits'.  When you enter there you can choose the credit from a drop down (solar is one of them).  This will then add the credit to line 31.  But you will need to download the Schedule EC and Credit Manager Schedule and file my mail.

Also, I just saw a message that TurboTax will have the Credit Manager Schedule on or about February 10th.  They will send me an email when it's available.  I need to wait and see what this is about.  Hopefully then I will only need to manually fill out the Schedule EC.

I hope this helps.

[mlavigne0023]

This was very helpful. Is any of the other information required? For example, is the credit non-expiring or the certificate number? Thanks!

[rrroy62]

Turbotax just released an update to the Windows CD (at least for Deluxe version) which includes the Massachusetts Credit Manager Schedule as of today.  
To answer your question about other information, I asked and received the following reply from Mass. Tax Dept., but your form may require different information than my situation.  I purchased Solar Panels in 2016 and had no other prior year credits.

"Only U.S. HUD grants or rebates should be entered on line 2. Not federal credits. On the CMS, please use your SSN for the identification number. Since the credit expires after three years, do not fill in the non-expiring oval. The period end date refers to the period in which the credit originated. If this is your first time claiming the credit, you should enter 12/31/2016. If you were carrying unused credit from a prior year, you would enter the year for which it was first claimed. Submit only the section for which you are claiming a credit."

The Turbotax Credit Manager Schedule should now fill in most of that information for you but remember that you will still need to file by mail and include the Schedule EC.

[edam-1]

Credit Manager Schedule has 4 parts and asks for under Refundable credits received from Mass.Section 4.  4a, Federal ID Number of credit source and in another column 4d. Certificate number.  My solar panel contract does not reference any of the above numbers.  In section 1. Non-refundable credits it asks for 1d. certificate number.  Are these numbers required for Solar Panels.  The federal return did not request this information.  Where can this information be obtained?

[buggerme]

When you're filling out the "Business related non-refundable credits" form, what is the Period End Date and the Certificate Number?  TIA

[buggerme]

Is the "Business related non-refundable credits" the CMS or is that a different form?

[PaulB1]

TurboTax is a real letdown in the area of Solar Credit and use of Massachusetts Schedule CMS and EC.
There is no step by step guide and you need to fetch Schedule EC from the Mass DOR site! Then you cannot file electronically. Apparently this has been the case for several years with folks being confused and the Intuit TT team being unknowing for the most part. A real weakness of this software for many.

[michmba73]

Having same problem with Mass EC form. Hard to believe that Turbotax hasn't figured this out. Great earlier advice on how to work around. Don't like filing paper but I guess it is the only way.