Turbo tax is double counting my property tax on Schedule A. I can't figure out why

[bjwnyack]

On Schedule A worksheet Turbo Tax is adding my property tax twice and tranferring it to the schedule A. I don't understand this and can't figure out why or change it.

[Carl]

It's because the programmers have backed themselves into a corner on that specific issue this year, and there's no way out. The problem is, you are asked to enter your property taxes twice (incorrectly). Work back through the "your home" section again. Note that you're asked for property taxes on the 2nd screen for the 1098 information, and then you're asked to enter them *again* on the screen immediately after the 1098 information screens. Leave one of them blank and you'll be fine.

[bjwnyack]

This is helpful but I never entered the property taxes twice which is one reason why this is so baffling. I'm not sure what you mean by "home" section.

[Carl]

Didn't say "home" section. Said "Your Home" section under the Deductions and Credits tab. Click that tab, then "I'll choose what to work on".

[bjwnyack]

I understand this but there must be a massive glitch in TT because it's saying that I reported property taxes on my home office and I didn't and now it's counting the taxes twice and there's no way to change it!!!!

[Carl]

Work through the home office again (SCH C home office I presume?) as most likely you elected to have the program do the split for you, then you entered property taxes a 2nd time in the 'Your Home" section maybe. There's other possibilities. For this one, I'm assuming your home office is for your SCH C business.

[bjwnyack]

I understand what you are saying and i am grateful for the help but I swear I didn't  enter property tax in the home office section and in fact I just deleted home office expenses and it made no difference.

[schristo121]

I'm having the same problem.  Is there a solution?

[Carl]

DId you not read the answer above?  I see no need to repeat it in the same thread.

[schristo121]

I have seen these responses -- but the suggested solution does not work.  If I delete the amount when completing my home office section, I do not get any prop tax allocation for my home office.  If I go into "Your Home" section, I am not able to change the amount.

[schristo121]

If I include the property tax amount in the home office deduction section, when I go to "Your Home" I am not able to edit the amount of property tax -- and it ends up with a doubled amount (almost doubled -- it nets out the tax apportioned to the home office).

[schristo121]

I stand corrected (accept my apology).  

In "Your Home" go first into the section where your mortgage lender and interest is listed --- zero out the property tax amount there.  

Then, the amount that is entered in the Home Office section -- will only be counted once (and the correct allocation will be made to the home office).

[yogascience]

I have the same problem and initially could not figure out from the information above ----but what had to happen was to go into the mortgage lender section and then walk through the next questions to get to the tax area to edit. On the screen where you can edit--the box actually says "additional property tax", which sometimes people make 2 payments in a year and this allows them to deduct for that.

[Carl]

What the programmers have done since my original answer above, is to just change that screen to read "additional property tax". It was the only fix that would actually work. Still for some, that word "additional" doesn't always register, and they end up entering the property tax a 2nd time. Glad you got it figured out though.

[steve13]

Some fix.  We have this problem as well, and we filed on a 6 month extension - thought the updates would have provided a real fix to problems like this!  This TurboTax error is going to cost me a bundle in fines and interest. Seems like TurboTax could have fixed this serious bug by now!  

 In my case, I was waiting for some totals for my home office expense, so I skipped ahead to the personal section and input the 1098 information.  Then later I went back to finish my Sched, C, including my home office.  Doing things in this order, there was NO warning or red flag.  Going back through, I can see that if I had put my home office info in first, there is a red IMPORTANT warning that pops up.  It doesn't if TT does not have the home office info already.  However in the Home Office section, the only little warning is no warning at all!  Just a comment to enter the property tax and then review the "deductions and credits" section (however worded). !!!!  

Now I'm fuming because this is NOT the only BUG and ERROR we encountered this year, but it is the only one that we didn't catch before E-filing!!  The others had us in infinite loops with the health care forms and worksheets, and at one point TT decided we had a partnership and insisted I file Sched. K !!

Now I have to go file an amended return, face whatever late fines and interest, and pay almost a $Grand in unpaid taxes!  I am seriously considering suing for my out of pocket costs on this---    

I have been a faithful TT user for more than TWO decades and this is by FAR the worst year I've ever seen!!!

VERY disappointed and have LOST all confidence in TT!!  Going to have to use some other  product or maybe an accountant next year.   I'm tired of having to shell out about $80 a year for the privilege of de-bugging your stupid software!

Way to go, TuroboTax!  You've lost a good customer!