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Level 2
posted Mar 17, 2022 8:04:17 PM

Federal Information Worksheet: Disaster distributions - You can't file just yet due to disaster tax relief laws passed by Congress.

I am attempting to e-file my return, but I go to a screen that says "Check This Entry
Federal Information Worksheet: Disaster distributions - You can't file just yet due to disaster tax relief laws passed by Congress. This may mean a better tax outcome for taxpayers like you who took qualified disaster distributions between 2018 and 2020. We can keep working on your tax return and we'll let you know when we can help you finish your taxes."

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20 Replies
Expert Alumni
Mar 17, 2022 8:20:04 PM

Yes, the forms that are necessary to complete this section won't be available until 03/31. 

Level 2
Mar 17, 2022 8:27:33 PM

Thanks so very much!

Level 2
Mar 21, 2022 9:25:30 AM

hey, 3/31 is also the day the free filing ends, so I wont get the discount because of this?

Level 15
Mar 21, 2022 9:31:27 AM


@sharleenprice wrote:

hey, 3/31 is also the day the free filing ends, so I wont get the discount because of this?


Form 8915-F, Qualified Disaster Retirement Plan Distributions and Retirements is scheduled to be available in TurboTax on 03/24/2022

Go to this TurboTax website for IRS forms availability - https://care-cdn.prodsupportsite.a.intuit.com/forms-availability/turbotax_fed_online_individual.html

 

If you did not take a disaster distribution in 2018 - 2020 or did not have a 2020 distribution due to Covid-19 from retirement account and spread the distribution over 3 years, then try this procedure so that you can file -

 

If you did not take a disaster distribution from your pension funds between 2018 and 2020, there may be a question that needs to be reviewed.  Follow these steps.  

  • Go to Federal / Wages & Income.
  • Scroll down to Wrap up income.
  • Continue.
  • At the screen Did you take a disaster distribution at any time between 2018 and 2020? answer No

Now watch the headings under Federal closely.  

  • When you are in Deductions & Credits
  • Scroll down and click on Wrap up tax breaks.
  • Then you are in Other Tax Situations.
  • Scroll down and click on Let's keep going.
  • Continue through to Federal Review

 

 

Level 2
Mar 21, 2022 9:59:08 AM

So, every time I'm on the "Your income" page, I click on "Start" for "Unemployment/paid family leave (1099-G):

  • I answer "No, I didn't" to "Did you receive unemployment or paid family leave benefits"?
  • I answer "No" to "Were you required to repay unemployment benefits (uncommon)?
  • I click "Continue".

Then, every time I'm on the "Your income" page, I click "Start" for "IRA, 401(k), Pension Plan Withdrawals (1099-R):

  • I answer "No" to "Did you get a 1099-R in 2021"?
  • I answer "No" to "Have you ever taken a disaster distribution before 2021"?
  • I click "Continue".

However, these same 2 sections continue to show up under "Your income" every single time I repeat the two activities above; as if I didn't even complete these items.

Level 2
Mar 24, 2022 2:54:44 PM

Form says its available in turbox, why do i keep getting this message and cant file

 
 

 

Level 15
Mar 24, 2022 3:11:32 PM


@DPERYEA1 wrote:

Form says its available in turbox, why do i keep getting this message and cant file

 
 

 


If you did not take a disaster distribution in 2018 - 2020 or did not have a 2020 distribution due to Covid-19 from retirement account and spread the distribution over 3 years, then try this procedure so that you can file -

 

If you did not take a disaster distribution from your pension funds between 2018 and 2020, there may be a question that needs to be reviewed.  Follow these steps.  

  • Go to Federal / Wages & Income.
  • Scroll down to Wrap up income.
  • Continue.
  • At the screen Did you take a disaster distribution at any time between 2018 and 2020? answer No

Now watch the headings under Federal closely.  

  • When you are in Deductions & Credits
  • Scroll down and click on Wrap up tax breaks.
  • Then you are in Other Tax Situations.
  • Scroll down and click on Let's keep going.
  • Continue through to Federal Review

Level 2
Mar 24, 2022 4:13:31 PM

hey I DID take a disaster distribution, and you said that after 03/24/2022 I would be able to complete my taxes. Form 8915-F seems to be available according to https://care-cdn.prodsupportsite.a.intuit.com/forms-availability/turbotax_fed_online_individual.html 

 

So how come its still telling me I can't  file yet?

Level 1
Mar 24, 2022 4:23:46 PM

Same here. What's going on?

@DoninGA 

New Member
Mar 25, 2022 3:12:48 PM

I was getting the same message, so I continued to check it and after two days it let me e-file, not sure why, but it went through and the IRS has accepted it. Now im having the same message come up for my father in laws tax return, today was day one after getting the message and its not letting me e-file, ill check again tomorrow (which would be day 2) and see if it lets me file like it did with mine after the second day. 

 

p.s. Ill let you all know if it does go through.... 

Expert Alumni
Mar 26, 2022 1:43:41 PM

The related Form 8915-F has been updated and released. Depending on what was holding up your return, you may be able to clear that review now. 

 

Log out of TurboTax Online, clear your cache & cookies, and close your browser. Reopen and log back into TurboTax. Open your return and run the Federal Review. If you still see the message to wait, try again tomorrow. Or if you're ready to e-file your return, you can proceed to that step and see if your return can be submitted.

Level 2
Mar 26, 2022 7:48:44 PM

Hey y'all, no one on this thread has been helpful. I FINALLY was able to proceed and file my taxes. YOU HAVE TO REDO THE INCOME SECTION!! Ignore the "You can't file just yet..." messaging you get at the end when trying to file, just go back to the income section and redo it from there, THATS where you can fill out the 8915-E form. After filling that out in the income section, everything will go through!

Expert Alumni
Mar 27, 2022 4:40:49 AM

We have also had success with this process.

 

Go to Wages & Income

  1. Scroll to the bottom of the section without making any changes.
  2. Click I'll choose what I work on click Done with Income
  3. Continue moving forward until you see a question about whether you took a disaster distribution in 2020 = No

Run the Federal Review again to see if the error has cleared

 

If you have tried these steps and you did not see a question about the disaster distributions in 2020, then try the steps listed below

 

Go to Wages & Income

  1. Scroll down to "Retirement Plans and Social Security
  2. Select IRA, 401(K) Pension Plan Withdrawals(1099-R) = Continue (you don't need to add any income forms)
  3. Have you ever taken a disaster distribution before 2021? = Yes
  4. Did either of you take a disaster distribution at any time between 2018 and 2022? = No

You should be able to e-file after answering the two disaster distribution questions in this manner.


 

Level 1
Mar 29, 2022 4:27:14 PM

Holy **bleep**! Thank you so much. They should give you a job lol

New Member
Mar 30, 2022 10:00:04 AM

Thank you so much! All I had to do was re-run the income portion, I didn't even have to enter new information. I just went back to it and ran through it again and voila! The nightmare that was filing my 2021 taxes is over! Thank you!!!!!

Level 2
Jan 22, 2023 3:05:00 PM

Is anyone else getting this message while trying to E File taxes for 2023??? 

New Member
Jan 23, 2023 4:25:31 PM

Yes i took a COVID distribution back in 2020 and split it up over 3 years this year says something about can not file due to disaster sonething about disaster relief by congress 

 

please explain

Expert Alumni
Jan 24, 2023 6:39:48 AM

The related form for this section (Form 8915-F) will not be available until February 2023 (see IRS forms availability table for TurboTax individual (personal) tax products). If this form doesn't apply to you, try the process below to see if you can resolve the issue and complete your return.

 

Log out of TurboTax Online, clear your cache & cookies, and close your browser. For the desktop version of TurboTax, start here. Reopen and log back into TurboTax. Open your return and run the Federal Review. If you still see the message about disaster distributions, do the following:

 

Go to Wages & Income

  1. Scroll to the bottom of the section without making any changes.
  2. Click I'll choose what I work on click Done with Income
  3. Continue moving forward until you see a question about whether you took a disaster distribution in 2020 = No

Run the Federal Review again to see if the issue has been resolved.

 

If the issue remains, try the steps listed below:

 

Go to Wages & Income

  1. Scroll down to Retirement Plans and Social Security
  2. Select IRA, 401(K) Pension Plan Withdrawals(1099-R) >> Continue (you don't need to add any income forms)
  3. Have you ever taken a disaster distribution before 2021? = Yes
  4. Did either of you take a disaster distribution at any time between 2018 and 2022? = No

Run the Federal Review again to see if the issue has been resolved.

 

If not, you will need to wait until Form 8915-F has been released and repeat this process if necessary.

New Member
Jan 25, 2023 1:11:24 PM

When I followed the instructions the only question that appeared was about owning digital assets. I was unable to remove Disaster Distributions as an option, thus unable to file with TurboTax. 

Expert Alumni
Jan 25, 2023 1:40:17 PM

See this article to sign up for notification when you'll be able to file: Why can't I uncheck the disaster distribution box?