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New Member
posted Jun 3, 2019 4:17:39 PM

Mortgage Int Limited Smart Worksheet. It says "Limit Int/points on 1098 should not be greater than -387.67, the total interest and points reported on Form 1098." Help!!

I have tried entering 0, 0.00, and turning the number into a positive and it keeps telling me to 'check this entry' and can't finish my taxes.

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1 Best answer
Intuit Alumni
Jun 3, 2019 4:17:41 PM

The error condition stating that “limit int/points should not be greater than –XXXX” is being generated for the case where the taxpayer has mortgage interest reported on Form 1098 from their lender as well as a Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC), but both forms were not entered into the tax return (or another specialized situation discussed at the end).

In order to be able to claim the MCC, the mortgage interest information from your lender must also be entered even though you are not claiming itemized deductions.

To correct the error, be sure that both the form 1098 information (and all the follow-up questions) and the MCC information has been entered into your tax return.  Also, do not enter any values or answers on the screen where you see the error.

To go directly to the section of your return to enter the 1098 information, you can use the following steps:

  • On the top row of the TurboTax online screen, click on Search (or for CD/downloaded TurboTax locate the search box in the upper right corner)

  • This opens a box where you can type in “1098” and click the magnifying glass (or for CD/downloaded TurboTax, click Find)

  • The search results will give you an option to “Jump to 1098” or just click the button to Go to 1098

 

After your 1098 information has been entered and the follow-up questions answered, the error condition should be cleared. 

(There was one additional case where the error could be generated even though both documents were entered.  If the box is checked that your name is not shown on the 1098 from your lender, then the error could be generated.  As long as your name is on the loan documents, you are liable to pay the mortgage, and you did pay the mortgage interest reported on the 1098, then you can uncheck that box to clear the error condition.)


23 Replies
Intuit Alumni
Jun 3, 2019 4:17:41 PM

The error condition stating that “limit int/points should not be greater than –XXXX” is being generated for the case where the taxpayer has mortgage interest reported on Form 1098 from their lender as well as a Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC), but both forms were not entered into the tax return (or another specialized situation discussed at the end).

In order to be able to claim the MCC, the mortgage interest information from your lender must also be entered even though you are not claiming itemized deductions.

To correct the error, be sure that both the form 1098 information (and all the follow-up questions) and the MCC information has been entered into your tax return.  Also, do not enter any values or answers on the screen where you see the error.

To go directly to the section of your return to enter the 1098 information, you can use the following steps:

  • On the top row of the TurboTax online screen, click on Search (or for CD/downloaded TurboTax locate the search box in the upper right corner)

  • This opens a box where you can type in “1098” and click the magnifying glass (or for CD/downloaded TurboTax, click Find)

  • The search results will give you an option to “Jump to 1098” or just click the button to Go to 1098

 

After your 1098 information has been entered and the follow-up questions answered, the error condition should be cleared. 

(There was one additional case where the error could be generated even though both documents were entered.  If the box is checked that your name is not shown on the 1098 from your lender, then the error could be generated.  As long as your name is on the loan documents, you are liable to pay the mortgage, and you did pay the mortgage interest reported on the 1098, then you can uncheck that box to clear the error condition.)


New Member
Jun 3, 2019 4:17:43 PM

I have entered my 1098 information and have completed form 8396 through Turbotax. I am taking standard deduction but both are entered and completed. I am still receiving this error. Any thoughts?

New Member
Jun 3, 2019 4:17:45 PM

I'm having this same issue.  

New Member
Jun 3, 2019 4:17:46 PM

Same issue

New Member
Jun 3, 2019 4:17:48 PM

Did any of you clear this issue?

New Member
Jun 3, 2019 4:17:49 PM

I also have the same issue; did everything the recommended answer mentioned and still the same error. :(

New Member
Jun 3, 2019 4:17:51 PM

I also have the same issue; did everything the recommended answer mentioned and still the same error -- need help please!

New Member
Jun 3, 2019 4:17:53 PM

didn't want to but went to H&R Block.. Sorry Turbotax

New Member
Jun 3, 2019 4:17:54 PM

I'm having this same problem, with -419.00 (the amount of the MCC) listed, and it won't allow me to file without fixing this issue. Please help!!!

New Member
Jun 3, 2019 4:17:56 PM

After HOURS of trying to figure this problem out (and talking to multiple turbotax technicians who tried to figure it out), it was found that the MCC tax credit was being subtracted from the home mortgage interest I could deduct - as it states here:

"Reduction of home mortgage interest deduction on Schedule A
(Form 1040).  If you itemize your deductions on Schedule A, you
must reduce the amount of home mortgage interest you would
otherwise deduct on Schedule A by the  amount on Form 8396, line
3, and report the reduced amount on Schedule A. You must do this
even if part of the amount on line 3 is carried forward to 2019.

It was discovered that it listed my deductible home mortgage interest as 0, therefore yielding a negative number after the subtraction.  THE FREEDOM EDITION APPARENTLY DOES NOT SUPPORT REGULAR 1098 FORMS, and that's why it was subtracting it from a zero dollar amount.  But it never told me this!  

After all this trouble, the LEAST turbotax could do was upgrade me to a version that made it work, BUT THEY GAVE NO COMPENSATION and said I would have to pay the $100 to upgrade regardless.  

If you want good customer service, find a different tax program. Hopefully this helps others avoid the same trouble.

New Member
Jun 3, 2019 4:17:58 PM

I just had this same issue. I deleted the MCC completely. Then I deleted my 1098 form and redid it from scratch. It fixed it completely.

New Member
Jun 3, 2019 4:17:59 PM

None of these solutions worked for me and shows -23k. I have no idea how to fix this or get help with it.

New Member
Jun 3, 2019 4:18:01 PM

You have to enter in the amount that is on line 8a of Schedule A.  Access the form by clicking the FORMS button in the top right.  Once there, you can navigate to the "Tax & Int Wks" in the list on the left. Scroll down to line 8a. Enter in that number and the error should go away.  For mine, it was the same as the number in which it stated it should not be above.  So for the example above, it would've been -387.67.  This was probably the amount of darkangel8099's MCC.  Mines was the same amount as my MCC.

New Member
Jun 3, 2019 4:18:04 PM

If your 1098 form (Box 7) has a check mark or any text what so ever, be sure to check the "Is Box 7 Checked" option when entering the 1098 info in Turbo tax. It will also ask you for the amount you owe on the loan for the beginning of 2019 which you can retrieve from January's 2019 mortgage statement. 

New Member
Jun 3, 2019 4:18:06 PM

I have entered my 1098 information and have completed form 8396 through Turbotax. I am taking standard deduction but both are entered and completed. I am still receiving this error. Any thoughts?

New Member
Jun 3, 2019 4:18:09 PM

Was this issue resolved? I still can’t move forward

New Member
Jun 3, 2019 4:18:11 PM

Was this issue resolved? I still can’t move forward

New Member
Feb 26, 2020 10:16:33 AM

This error will occur if your name is not on the 1098.  But it doesn't go away if you delete that.  You need to go to the Tax and Interest Worksheet and change the answer to the question "Does your mortgage interest need to be  limited?  The way the form is designed, the box just to the left of the No is actually the Yes box.  You need to check the box WAY to the right of the word No.  This is a human factors design flaw in the worksheet.

 

New Member
Mar 11, 2020 8:46:27 PM

I FINALLY HAVE THE ANSWER. (After following instructions from the other comments and trying to fix it many times in different ways with not postive outcome- I have found what worked for me) ... I called the customer service line and we figured out that the INTEREST RATE amount on the Mortgage Certificate (MCC) HAS TO BE the same amount on Box 1 on your 1098 Form.  

I didn't understand this because my MCC didn't specify my interest rate, but after speaking to the representative and looking at Box 1 on the 1098 Form [box 1 is labeled as: Mortgage interest received from payer(s)/borrower(s)]- it makes total sense!!! I was able to file my return with the FREE service from TurboTax and didn't have to upgrade to Deluxe and pay $100. 

New Member
Mar 14, 2020 3:59:33 PM

This is NOT solved like it says it is. Somehow it checked the limit box, but did not need limit int.

Returning Member
Mar 24, 2020 5:29:29 PM

I cannot file my taxes.  I've reinputted multiple times and tried all suggestion.  Mortgage Interest Limited Smart Worksheet states A2 limited amount to report on Schedule A, line 8a.

I have no schedule A because I have to take the standard deduction.

HELP ME!

Expert Alumni
Mar 24, 2020 5:39:25 PM

Did you try to delete the Mortgage Interest Limited Smart Worksheet?  See How do I view and delete forms in TurboTax Online?

@lauren808

New Member
Feb 18, 2021 12:55:30 PM

This drove me nuts for an hour or so. Tried everything: entered 0.00, also entered what I paid in mortgage interest [basically the same amount as in the line above it problem line]. I found that going to the "Home Mortgage Interest Worksheet" & removing the "-" in front of the mortgage interest paid amount entered in line 2b fixed it like magic.