Hello, I adopted my last child in 2020. Turbotax keeps generating an Adoptive Child Worksheet for me for 2021 and I don't understand why.

[natalie-r-bradle]

We didn't have any additional adoption related expenses in 2021 but no matter how many times I delete it, Turbo Tax keeps adding it back.

[DanaB27]

Were you able to claim the full credit in 2020? Please be aware any credit in excess of your tax liability may be carried forward for up to five years. Please see How do I claim the Adoption Credit in 2021? for additional information. 

[natalie-r-bradle]

We have adopted 4 times so we have a perpetual carryover since 2016. Would I still fill out another form for our latest adoption (2020) again though? 

[RaifH]

Yes, you will still need Form 8839 for the Adoption Credit in 2021 if you have a credit remaining from prior years. The adoption credit carries forward for five years if it is not used in its entirety. 

You may need to verify the information that has carried forward if you filed with TurboTax in prior years, but if the adoption was finalized in 2020 and you did not have any new adoption expenses in 2021, then there should be nothing new to add. 

[natalie-r-bradle]

Hello,

   It’s making me re-enter her name on the adoption worksheet (it’s also changing my refund amount) and I want to be sure that is right before submitting. I feel like it isn’t- I have never had to re-enter any other child’s name before. 

[ThomasM125]

You can look on schedule 3, part I, line 6(c) to see if your adoption credit amount looks correct on your tax return. It is a non-refundable credit, so it may be limited in the current year if your tax on line 24 of your form 1040 is reduced to zero.

You can view your form 1040 and schedules 1 to 3 while working in the online version of TurboTax by following these steps:

While working on your return in the Federal section of TurboTax:

   1.  Choose the Tax Tools icon on your left menu bar

   2.  Tools

   3.  View Tax Summary

   4.  Choose the Preview my 1040 on your left menu bar

[natalie-r-bradle]

Hello,

   I will check that out. In what scenario would they have me entering her name into that worksheet again? I guess that is where my confusion lies. 

[DaveF1006]

It depends. If you reported her in your 2020 return as an adoptive child, her name should still be listed on the worksheet.

[natalie-r-bradle]

It’s very bizarre as it’s now making me enter her SSN and everything again. It’s also saying the form hasn’t been update by the IRS and released for This year- maybe there is a glitch in there somewhere that will clear up when the form is approved. Hoping that is soon! 

[Cynthiad66]

This will clear up when the form has been added for 2021 return.  We do not have a date of a fix yet so we recommend you checking back oftern to see if the issue has been resolved.

[nadiadovgun]

it has not asked me for this form or mentioned it in the previous years, is this something new? 

[DaveF1006]

@Nadiadovgun It depends. As DanaB27 mentions in this thread, this form will only appear in your return if you had adoption expenses in the past that you could not use that are being carried forward for 5 years. In your case, it sounds like you adopted your child several years ago and had no excess credit to carry forward.  As a result, you were able to use the full credit in the first year of adoption.

[auntmaryshere]

please help with this thank you

[auntmaryshere]

8839 form is out everywhere but TurboTax what's going on?  when will this be available? I know many who did it going to other tax services and leaving TurboTax for this reason. not happy 

[HeatherPLO]

@auntmaryshere

In this public forum, we are provided with form availability information, but not an explanation as to why the form is not available until that date.  For additional information, it would be necessary to contact customer support.  To do this, please see this Help Article to get in touch with us.