2021 Form 1116 Schedule B (carryovers) can't efile

[max prosperity]

Using the 0n-Line Product on a MacBook Pro, I went to review/print at 4:30 pm today and my completed Schedule B was there! So going through the File interview, the only option that showed up was e-file which I selected and e-file was all set.  I'm still waiting for one last Canada NR4 before actually filing so I'm holding off for now because last year my state (Arkansas) rejected my e-file and asked for NR4 copies to accompany my state return.

Thanks everyone for your posts on this thread. This has been a wild ride.

[LarryDean]

Providing a more specific version of a post I first made back on page 26 of this thread, for those using the Windows PC version of TurboTax, the way to efile is below.  It eliminates the error when you press the efile button thinking you have it made, and an error message pops up saying that it can’t find Form 1116 Schedule B.  I do not know about either online or Mac versions, but perhaps if you play around with them like I did to find the exact key to the Windows version, you can make it work for you without tricks like zeroing things out that might compromise future years’ returns.  The trick for online and Mac is to figure out where Turbotax looks for the 1116B file, and copy/paste it to that location.

To generate the 1116B file, go to the step by step at File, Print/Save, Save PDF, then choose specific forms and from the list at the right, select 1116 Schedule B, choose save PDF, and rather than having it use whatever name you’ve been calling your return, type in the file name Form1116ScheduleB.  It will then save that file name as a PDF to whatever default directory you’ve been saving to, which in my case was Documents\turbotax.  I could then see it in Windows Explorer as Documents\turbotax\Form1116ScheduleB.pdf

In Windows explorer, create a directory called \attachment in your root, hard drive directory C, such that Windows Explorer now shows the directory c:\attachment.  Using copy/paste, copy the file from the prior paragraph into that new directory.

Go back and do the normal efile procedure and it should now work.  Mine and quite a few other users were successful that way.  Mine was immediately submitted by Turbotax without errors or warnings and accepted about half an hour later by the IRS.

[Sonnyof42]

@max prosperity 

Just a "heads up".  My return showed the Form 1116 Schedule B on my MacBook Air as well, and it even showed up on my print copy just before filing, but when I hit "Transmit My Return" (or whatever it said specifically) that is when I got the error message.  But hopefully this will be fixed by the time for receive your last NR4 and it won't matter.

[ehlevering3]

@LarryDean- thank you!  I picked up the your instructions from someone back on page 27, followed them and it worked!  Why it worked I have no idea, but it worked.  Thank you again.

[PatGriffin]

Thanks LarryDean, it worked. Another word of caution when filling out the Schedule B form using the interview: Although TurboTax knows your disallowed values for prior years (from Form 2555 exclusions, etc.}, they are not carried forward to the Schedule B form and you have to enter them manually as adjustments. When you do so, you must enter them as negative numbers or the carryover values will be calculated incorrectly. Fortunately, I checked the Schedule B form in TurboTax before filing the return and discovered that the calculated carryover values were overstated by twice the disallowances. I corrected the problem by re-entering the disallowances as negative numbers. I suggest you double check the completed Schedule B form for errors before filing.

[CanTex]

Return accepted! The trick was making a folder (Win 11) called C:\attachment, then moving Form1116ScheduleB.pdf over there. It worked.

I’m saving your response in case something else comes up next year. 

Which begs the question: You’d think TT would have a more explanatory pop-up box on the final screen. And without this forum, I never would have figured it out.

[EsquireTax]

Thank you Mr. Dean. This last step step solution with the attachment is the most important step. Figuring out this step is non-trivial for ordinary folks like us. 

[Obe]

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Which begs the question: You’d think TT would have a more explanatory pop-up box on the final screen. And without this forum, I never would have figured it out.

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Here's the Win error message:

It actually gives a good clue: you need a root level directory /attachment with a file Form1116ScheduleB. It tells you the answer if you read it right.

Much much better than on Mac where it just tells you there's an error, but nothing about the nature of the error. I think there is probably somewhere on Mac where you can put the file where TT is looking for it. But who knows where that is. Usually I'd expect it in the Mac world to be in User/username/Library/Application Support/Turbotax. But although there are folders there for all the prior years of TT, there is none for this year. Mac users without the ability to transmit the file on a Win PC are going to need to call support so they can reveal the secret location or fix whatever other error is preventing the transmission.

[CanTex]

It  finally makes sense. My Windows development days are long, long ago or I would have caught that. Now I’m just a user, well, power user, except on this. I raised a celebratory glass of wine in your (and everyone else who had the answer) honor. Thank you!

[HK-NYC]

Congrats to @LarryDean and others who figured out the workaround to TT's "almost there" fix.  Both my Federal and State e-filings were successful and accepted today.

Essentially, TT pushed out a Beta (untested) version of their 2021 tax software with the PDF of Form 1116 Schedule B missing (as well as this latest "fix")  to their production server and we have all been TT's Beta testers. 

Our feedbacks and complaints got their attention and they pushed out the "fix" sooner than the end of March and that is commendable but TT owes all of its loyal customers more than just that.  Nobody should be paying for a Beta product and when e-filing is the promised and promoted feature, suggesting paper filing in lieu should not be even considered an option - backlogs will expand and those with refunds due will be out of pocket for an indeterminate period of time.   If TT does not publicly acknowledge that and make amends, its reputation will be severely tarnished for a long time.

 Good luck to those using the Online or Mac versions of TT.  Hope you find your answers soon as to where to save your PDF of Form 1116 Schedule B to.

[TrishMarie]

Thank you for all your help in figuring out how to e file, but I have a question.

How do i create the c:/attachment.

Is it actually a folder or a directory.

If a directory, can you please let me know how to do that.

I truly appreciate all your help with this TT issue.

Thank you

[HK-NYC]

@TrishMarie 

1.  Open your File Explorer (the one with File Folder icon).

2.  Scroll down the left panel and click on Windows (C:)

3.  Right click on the right panel and then select New then Folder

4.  Name that new folder "attachment"

5.  Save or copy your Form1116ScheduleB.pdf to that folder

6.  Go back to TurboTax and try e-filing again.

Here's a visual of your File Explorer as mentioned above

[CanTex]

Open up File Explorer, find C:, then navigate to New —> Folder. Then enter “attachment” without the quotes. So you’ll have C:\attachment. I let TT make the PDF file, then renamed it and copied it to the new folder.

[mesquitebean]

@ HK-NYC and @ CanTex  and @ TrishMarie 

There may be another out-of-band update overnight tonight, according to a TurboTax employee @MoniqueLO_  who left this comment earlier today in a related thread:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/re-form-1116-schedule-b/01/2573247#M922346

If that's the case and there's another update tonight, I don't know if that will ultimately fix the attachment problem or not, but hopefully.

[HK-NYC]

@mesquitebean   Thanks for the info.  For the sanity of everyone who is still struggling (notably Online and Mac users), I do hope the promised fix / update tomorrow will work.