How do I find the Federal Identification Number for a foreign financial institution? to report interest earned on a foreign account as if I had received a 1099INT.

[KurtL1]

When entering interest income in TurboTax you do not need to enter a Tax ID. You just need to enter the interest income in U.S. Dollars (USD)

When calculating the conversion to USD keep the calculations in your tax records.

To enter interest, you would:

1. Enter interest income in the Search Magnifying Glass in the upper right hand corner of the screen.
2. Select Jump to interest income.

[elodiegoodman1]

Thanks @KurtL1 . TurboTax flags the missing FEIN as an issue to be fixed before I can submit, if I leave the field empty. Is that just to be ignored?

[KurtL1]

You need to delete Form 1099-INT from your return. Then enter the interest how I show before. Using that method you are not asked for the FEIN on the financial institution.

[elodiegoodman1]

Thank you @KurtL1 

I am sorry but I am still a bit confused. I tried to search "interest income" in teh magnifying galss search field as you suggested, but I don't get "jump to interest income" as a result of the search. In the category "Wages and income", I find "Interest and Dividends", but the only options are "Interest on 1099INT", "Dividends on 1099DIV", "1099OID, Foreign Accounts", or "Interest from Seller-Financed Loans". If I go to the Foreign accounts category, it says "Report the foreign income as though you received tax forms 1099-INT/1099-DIV/1099-B/etc." So I don't see another way to report interest earned than through filling out a 1099INT - which brings me back to the issue of missing FEIN. 

Thanks so much for your help and clarifications!

[KurtL1]

If you are on the online software, before you enter the interest income in the search bar, you need to select Federal on the left side of the screen in the Black bar.. Also try entering 1099-int instead of interest income. 

I entered both ways on the desktop software and the online software.

[KurtL1]

You need to delete the Form 1099-INT before you enter the "interest income: in the search.

On the online software to delete a return off of your return you need to:

1. Select Tax Forms in the Black bar on the left side of the screen.
2. Select Tools from the drop down menu.
3. On the Tools Center Select Delete a form.
4. Locate the form on the list and select Delete.
5. You will be asked to confirm the deletion.

[elodiegoodman1]

@KurtL1 Thanks so now I do get the "jump to interest income" as the top result of the search. When I select that, it takes me to the page "review your 1099-INT info". (I have other 1099INT besides the one I had entered due to the foreign interest, I did not delete those). The only option there is "enter a new 1099-INT". 

Can you please explain generally how to enter interest income without creating a 1099-INT? is it another form? 

[KarenJ2]

I would enter the foreign interest as Other Miscellaneous Income.

1. Click on Federal on the left hand side of the screen
2. Click on Wages & Income
3. Scroll down to  All Income 
4. Scroll down to Less Common Income
5. Click on Show More
6. Scroll down to Miscellaneous Income
7. Click on Start
8. Scroll down to Other Reportable Income
9. Click Start and answer yes
10. Enter description and amount

If you paid foreign tax on this income, you will need to enter foreign tax credit in the Search bar at the top or the page and click Jump to.  You will need to enter the foreign tax in this section.