CA state tax Form 3800 issue (FTB3800)

[user17751788504]

I filed CA state tax with Form 3800. It seems line 18 calculation by TurboTax has some issue.

For my case

Line 16: 397

Line 17: 10

L18 is the larger of Line 16 and Line 17. TurboTax filled in 5217.

Can you explain how this number came about? Is it a bug?

My token is: 9130354351733656-11971069

Thanks

[DaveF1006]

In examining your return further, I notice there may have been some missing information you needed to complete.  The amount of $5217 is an amount that may have been calculated erroneously due to the limited information that was provided in the return. As I looked over your California return, there seemed to be some information missing.  Here is how I suggest proceeding with your return. Delete your California and Colorado returns completely. I am suggesting you re-enter with a clean copy. If in TruboTax online, go to your state returns and delete. Once deleted, here is how I want you to proceed. Begin with your CA non-resident return. Start to prepare it.   In the first screen, indicate that the child was a California non-resident for the entire year since he/she is there strictly for education. Continue through until you see the screen that says residency information. Here you will also say your child is a full-year non-resident. Don't put anything in for move in/move out dates for 2025. Now continue until you reach a screen that says Child with investment income It will then ask you to review the information on Federal Form 8615.  If it is correct, press continue. In the second screen after the review, you need to enter you (the parents) taxable income on their Ca Form 540 NR. If there is none, put 0. Now it will repeat asking the child's investment income and how much of it is taxable in Ca. If not taxable, put "0". Now with everything said and done, line 18 will drastically change because it now compares the tax computed in the line 17 Smart Tax worksheet line B with the amount on Line 6 and the difference will be recorded in line 18.   In examining your return further, I notice there may have been some missing information you needed to complete.  The amount of $5217 is an amount that may have been calculated erroneously due to the limited information that was provided in the return. As I looked over your California return, there seemed to be some information missing.  Here is how I suggest to proceed with your return. Delete your California and Colorado returns completely. I am suggesting you re-enter with a clean copy. If in TruboTax online, go to your state returns and delete. Once deleted, here is how I want you to proceed. Begin with your CA non-resident return. Start to prepare it.   In the first screen, indicate that the child was a California non-resident for the entire year since he/she is there strictly for education. Continue through until you see the screen that says residency information. Here you will also say your child is a full-year non-resident. Don't put anything in for move in/move out dates for 2025. Now, continue until you reach a screen that says Child with investment income It will then ask you to review the information on Federal Form 8615.  If it is correct, press continue. In the second screen after the review, you need to enter you (the parents) taxable income on their Ca Form 540 NR. If there is none, put 0. Now it will repeat asking the child's investment income and how much of it is taxable in Ca. If not taxable, put "0". Now with everything said and done, line 18 will drastically change because it now compares the tax computed in the line 17 Smart Tax worksheet line B with the amount on Line 6 and the difference will be recorded in line 18.  [ Edited 04/09/2026 I 3:16 PM PST]

[user17751788504]

Thank you Dave for your detailed explanation!

I have one more question. My parents are CA resident and filed CA540, not CA540NR.

In TurboTax CA state return, in the page where parents detailed income information is required. See picture below.

In Form 540NR "line 32" and "line 35" are different items from Form 540 . Shall I just leave these two items blank? 

Does Line 17 and Line 32 refer to the same thing? Does Line 19 and Line 35 refer to the same thing?

If I entered the same numbers for Line 17 and Line 32,  Line 19 and Line 35, then $5217 showed up again. If I leave Line 32 and Line 35 blank, then the number dramatically reduced.

Thanks again for your help.

[user17751788504]

Just to add to my last message. 

I had followed your instructions, deleted the state returns, and re-did CA state return and changed resident information. 

It seemed when I filled in the last 2 lines of information (Form 540NR line line 32 and 35, see picture in my last message)  the erroneous number of 5217 will show up on Line 18 of Form 3800. My parents filled Form 540, not 540NR.

When I removed the last 2 lines of information, Form 3800 Line 18 drops significantly. So there seems to be something not right in calculating Line 18 of Form 3800.

Thanks.