Where to enter the Illinois Invest In Kids information?

[cmurphy1925]

Where to enter the Illinois Gives credit information?

[AnnetteB6]

Use the following steps:

1. After you have gone through your Illinois return, you will come to a screen titled, 'Your 2025 Illinois taxes are ready to check'.
2. From that screen, click Edit beside Credits and Taxes.  
3. Scroll to the bottom until you see Other Credits, click the down arrow to expand the section.
4. Click Start or Revisit beside Carryforward to enter your Invest in Kids credit you are carrying forward from previous tax years.
5. Click Start or Revisit beside Illinois Gives to enter your information for that credit.

[cmurphy1925]

Thanks for the detailed response, however, I don’t see an “Other Credits” item in Credits and taxes section. Should I delete the Illinois state return and start over?

[AnnetteB6]

You should not need to delete the state return and start over, but it should not be detrimental to do that.

Instead, try typing 'other' in the search box that is directly below the title on the screen called, 'Take a look at Illinois credits and taxes'.

@cmurphy1925 

[cmurphy1925]

To clarify, I’m looking for the Illinois Gives tax credit section, which should also be in the Other credits section, but, I still don’t get that option in the online product. Is it possible there’s a glitch in the software as this is a new Illinois credit for 2025? What else can I try at this point? Very frustrating.

[AmyC]

Illinois gives is available online. Follow these steps: 

1. When you see Credits, select the arrow to show the hidden credits.
2. IL gives is at the bottom of that section.
3. Once you select start, you will need to enter your certificate information. It is available through your My Tax Illinois account.

[cmurphy1925]

“Thanks” for sending the screen shots - very helpful and lets me know what I should be seeing online.  However, I don’t see the Other Credits or the Business and Investment drop down sections in my return. I have a call into TurboTax support to see if they can assist.  If you have any other thoughts, or know how I can re-trigger the Illinois Interview to get to these sections please advise.

[AmyC]

My first thought was lack of tax liability but I think you may have tech trouble. A full or corrupted cache can cause problems in TurboTax, sometimes you need to clear your cache (that is, remove these temporary files). Here are some steps to try.

Online version:

1. Log out of your return and try one or more of the following:
   • Don't use Internet Explorer.
   • Clear cache and cookies,
   • Sign in using a different browser.
   • Sign in using a different device.
2. Log back into your return.
   • Enter the information again.

Desktop version: 

1. Save your return while closing the program.
2. Update the program
3. Open
4. Enter the information again.

[cmurphy1925]

I’m using the 2025 DIY Premium product. I tried three different browsers, including clearing the cookies, etc. and nothing worked. I waited on the phone for 45 minutes to speak to a product specialist who was also not able to assist with unlocking the ‘Other Credits” section in my state return. Suggested I try to use the “Get Expert Help” option, which would require me to pay additional money, with no guarantee that they could resolve, either. Very frustrating ……………anyone have any suggestions. 

[RogerD1]

This is a workaround that can be used to get to the Illinois Gives Credit:

1. With your return open in TurboTax Desktop, click on "Forms" near the upper right corner of the screen.
2. On the left click on the folder that says "Open Form"
3. Click the + to the left of "2025 Illinois" to expand that section
4. Scroll down in the pop-up that appears to Schedule 1299-C, and click the plus sign to the left of it to expand that section.
5. Click "Income Tax Credits Info and Worksheets: 1299-I Worksheet for IL 1299-A/C/D" then click "Open Form" at the bottom of the pop-up window.
6. This will bring up Schedule 1299-I.  Scroll down on the form to get to Credit Code 5670 Illinois Gives.  Click on the Quickzoom button to the left of "Illinois Gives".
7. This will bring up the Illinois Gives Smart Worksheet, which will be near the bottom of the screen that opens up.
8. Scroll down and enter the DNR tax credit certificate in the top box in the worksheet.
9. Click on the box to the left of "x.25=" and enter your total donation amount that qualifies for the credit.
10. The credit will be calculated at 25% of the donation amount.
11. If any of the donation was from a distributive share from partnerships, S corporations, trusts or estates, enter it below the calculated credit.  If this does not apply, leave it blank.
12. The line Total in Step 3 table column E with credit code 5670 will be the total credit.
13. The Schedule 1299-C, page 3 will auto-generate and you can view by clicking on the list of forms on the right.
14. Column I will show the credit applied to your IL-1040 return for 2025.
15. If the total credit is greater than your tax liability, the amount that exceeds your tax liability for 2025 will appear in column J and can be as a carry-forward to future years.
16. This credit amount is carried over to IL-1040, line 17
17. To return back to the regular input screens, click on the "Step-by-Step" in the upper right of your TurboTax screen.

[cmurphy1925]

Thanks for the very detailed instructions below, however, I’m using the 2025 DIY online Premium product (vs the Desktop version) and I don’t have access to the Forms.  If you can provide similar instructions for the online product, that would be awesome.

[LenaH]

I would like to take a deeper look at this. However, I need a diagnostic file which is a copy of your tax return that has all of your personal information removed. You can send one to us by following the directions below:

TurboTax Online:

1. Sign into your online account.
2. Locate the Tax Tools on the left-hand side of the screen.
3. A drop-down will appear. Select Tools
4. On the pop-up screen, click on “Share my file with agent.”
5. This will generate a message that a diagnostic file gets sanitized and transmitted to us.
6. Please provide the Token Number that was generated in the response.

TurboTax Desktop/Download Versions:

1. Open your return.
2. Click the Online tab in the black bar across the top of TurboTax and select “Send Tax File to Agent” *
3. This will generate a message that a diagnostic copy will be created.  Click on OK and the tax file will be sanitized and transmitted to us.
4. Please provide the Token Number  (including the dash) that was generated in the response.

*(If using a MAC, go to the menu at the top of the screen, select Help, then, “Send Tax File to Agent”)

 @cmurphy1925 

[cmurphy1925]

From Turbo Tax online 2025 DIY Premium product.  1326337. Please advise next steps.

[LenaH]

Thank you for providing your token. This issue will be investigated further.  

The current workaround is to use TurboTax Desktop. For step-by-step instructions on switching to TurboTax Desktop from TurboTax Online, click here. 

Once in TurboTax Desktop, please follow the steps below:

1. Click on Forms on the upper right hand side of your screen (in the blue bar).
2. Click on Open Form on the left hand side.
3. Type in Schedule 1299-I, click enter, and then double click on the schedule I worksheet in the search results.
4. In the list of active credits, click QuickZoom next to Illinois Gives.
5. Enter the tax credit certificate number from DNR and your total contribution. The credit will automatically calculate.
6. Click on Step-by-Step in the blue bar on the upper right hand side of your screen. 
7. Continue your return.

@cmurphy1925 

[user17708664924]

I can follow Steps 1 and 2. For Step 3, there is no Other Credits option on my screen.