5695 is giving error F5695-096

[VIP-SEP]

Error F5695-096 is preventing IRS from accepting submitted forms & TT has not gotten a fix for it yet.  Bummer.

[Taxesareunpleasant]

I got the exact reject code today but am finding very little information on this. I got this message

Description of error:

If Form 5695, [ 'CostAmt' in 'MostExpnsElecGasHtPumpGrp' from 'HtPumpWtrHeaterBmssStoveBlrGrp' from 'EgyEffcntHmImprvCrGrp' ] has a non-zero value, then [ 'QMID' in 'MostExpnsElecGasHtPumpGrp' from 'HtPumpWtrHeaterBmssStoveBlrGrp' from 'EgyEffcntHmImprvCrGrp' ] must be present unless a binary attachment or [GeneralDependencySmall] with description beginning with "Substantiate QMID" is present in the return.

What needs to be done:

This return cannot be filed at this time due to a processing error that will be corrected on February 13, 2026. On or after this date please log back into the product and get the latest updates (TurboTax Online does this automatically). Then revisit the Federal return, run through review and re-transmit the return. If the reject continues, you may want to file this return via U.S. Mail: print and mail it to the appropriate taxing authority.

[RobertB4444]

That error is related to the 'joint-occupancy' part of the home energy credit.  Joint Occupancy does not refer to Married filing Jointly.  It refers to sharing the credit with someone else who is also filing a tax return to take the credit. 

In order to file right now you need to uncheck the box at the top of the form that refers to joint occupancy.  

In the desktop program go to forms mode and manually uncheck the box at the top of form 5695.

In the online program clear your cache and cookies and then go through the step by step for the residential energy credit again and say 'no' to the question on joint occupancy.

If you actually are sharing the credit with someone else who is filing the form then the IRS will not be accepting this form for joint occupancy until at least March 27th.  So you can wait until then to file or you can print and mail in your tax return.

Here is another thread with information on this issue.

[ttjunk]

I don't think this is right because if you say 'no' to that question the next TT screen says "we do not, however support the situation for a married couple where each person lives in a separate main home."  Form 5695 is totally broken in TT 2025 and crazy that we have to pay to do our taxes and the company we pay to do it can't even figure this out.  

Sign of the times I guess.