Utah retirement tax credits

[Earlpsu70]

I am a Utah resident, older than 70, get a Military retirement pension and Social Security. This year's state tax law changes allow me to take a Retirement Tax credit or credits for Social Security taxes and Military taxes. But the program is only recognizing the Social Security credit. How do I get the program to give me both credits?

[SteamTrain]

@Earlpsu70 

1)  IF you are using the Desktop software, make absolutely sure you have updated your software...the final UT forms are "supposed" to be ready, but yeah, there could be a mistake.

2) after #1, go thru, and review the entries on your Military 1099-R again in the Federal section.  For many states with similar exemptions, there is a follow-up page after the main entries where you indicate that the 1099-R is a military (or sometimes Federal Employee) pension.   IF it's in that follow-up page, the "state distribution" amount must be set to the value of box 2 on the Military 1099-R form (or the Federally-taxable amount of box 1 if box 2 is empty).  

Otherwise:

3)   Give Customer Support a call on the phone.  They can check the current status of the software, show you how it is handled IF there is a special place to make the proper entries....or.... issue a correction ticket to get the software corrected, if needed.

_________________________

What is the TurboTax phone number? (intuit.com)

[dkubiaksr]

Why doesn't the online version of TurboTax account for the new Utah military retirement tax credit.  Will this be fixed or do I need to use different software like H and R Block or something?

[ewjohn1]

I followed the advice from SteamTrain and it seems the only way to solve this is to call customer support and let them realize that the program is not doing what it should. They will then report the problem.

I have not used the online version so I cannot offer any assistance there. Sorry. But in the Windows version, you can change to Forms view and override the blank military retirement credit to remove the amount of your retired pay. Not the way it should work but it makes it right.

[Phillysteak19127]

I am having the same problem not working for me either

[BillM223]

We have identified an issue with the military retirement credit in Utah and are researching it.

The actual change to the tax code in Utah was that taxpayers receiving military retirement income receive a nonrefundable tax credit of 4.95% of the distribution reported in income, so the military retirement still appears as taxable income but a credit is applied to compensate for it. See this Utah page.

NOTE: you can't take the military tax credit if you claim either the Social Security Benefits Credit or the Retirement Credit. Please see this Utah page.

TurboTax will identify which of the credits gives you the best result and apply it automatically.

Let us work on the military retirement credit...

@dkubiaksr

@ewjohn1

@Phillysteak19127

@Earlpsu70

As you can see, Earlpsu70, you can't take both credits at the same time (see the second link).

[ewjohn1]

The representative from the Utah Tax Commission who presented to the AARP TaxAide group in Utah stated that both Social Security and Military Retirement Credits can be taken at the same time. The wording in the Retirement Tax Credit (Code 18) section that is referenced is misleading/misunderstood. See the instructions for the Social Security (Code AH - https://incometax.utah.gov/credits/ss-benefits) and Military Retirement (Code AJ - https://incometax.utah.gov/credits/military-retirement) credits and they only mention that they cannot be taken with the Retirement Tax Credit (Code 18). It is not the case that you get only one or the other. Contact the Utah State Tax Commission to get it straight from them. I already have.

[Phillysteak19127]

I am only trying to take the militart retirement credit and turbo tax will not let me take it.  I spoke to the Utah State Tax Commissioner himself and we came to the conclusion the turbo tax software has a bug.

[TeresaM]

Yes, our team is working on updating the Utah state military retirement credit area. Please see this TurboTax Help Article with a link to sign up to receive updates.

Utah Military Retirement Credit updates

[Phillysteak19127]

So how long for the update I keep hearing to file asap so no one does identity theft. So again when is the update coming.

[BillM223]

We on the Community do not have access to the internal schedules of Development, and even if we did, Development might have to change the deadlines because Congress and the states have changed the tax codes once again. Signing up for the notification, as Teresa advised you, is your best option.

[mikewms]

I completed my tax return (entering all data) for both Federal and Utah State.  I knew that Utah has changed the taxation law regarding Military Pensions being Taxed.  I worked for several hours to figure out how to enter the correct Code, and calculated tax credit.  No luck, called Turbo Tax Saturday 29 January.  Was on the phone for 1 hour, was told to reenter the data, customer service was back and forth with higher level support.  They agreed to research and call me back with potential solution.  Called back on Tuesday 1 February another hour trying to reenter data.  Still, no success in getting the correct code to ID retired pay tax credit to replace the Social Security tax credit.  The customer service representative was very pleasant and courteous and from my  experience they have a significant software problem.  What I can't understand is that the law changed over 9 months ago why we the Utah Military Veterans who have a pension have become the Beta Testers. Shame on turbo tax.  I will give them until Monday before I head to a CPA.  They have lost a 30 + year Turbo Tax Customer

[ewjohn1]

Two things - if you are drawing social security and a Military pension (codes AH and AJ), you are eligible for both credits as long as you don't take the retirement tax credit (code 18). This is per the Utah State Tax Commission. I have checked and double checked! To make TurboTax give you the proper credits, go to Forms and work your way down to the tax credit work sheet. There you have to override the blank Military section and put in your amount from block 2 of the 1099-R. 

In their defense, TurboTax has sent me weekly emails saying they are working on the issue but I haven't seen a resolution yet and I am not sure they will implement it correctly as the Utah code 18 writeup is misleading, and you can get both AH and AJ credits.

[JillS56]

We have identified an issue with the military retirement credit in Utah and are researching it.

The actual change to the tax code in Utah was that taxpayers receiving military retirement income receive a non-refundable tax credit of 4.95% of the distribution reported in income, so the military retirement still appears as taxable income but credit is applied to compensate for it. See this Utah page.

NOTE: you can't take the military tax credit if you claim either the Social Security Benefits Credit or the Retirement Credit. Please see this Utah page.

TurboTax will identify which of the credits gives you the best result and apply it automatically.

Let us work on the military retirement credit...

@dkubiaksr

@ewjohn1

@Phillysteak19127

Utah Military Retirement Updates

[acvt8z]

Your link is dead.

How's about updating the data disc to indicate where and how Utah's new military retirement tax credit fits in / is applied.