I have a dependent.
If I answer the question on the federal dependent worksheet, "Is this person's gross income less than $5,050" with a "No"...then California exemption section lists the dependent one time and calculates one ("1") exemption, valued at $461.
If I answer the question with a "Yes"...then TurboTax generates a federal Schedule 8812 and lists the dependent TWO TIMES on the California form 540 and calculates two ("2") exemptions for the same person.
I'm concerned that California Franchise Tax Board will frown on my listing the same person twice and taking two exemptions.
Does this sound right to you? Is this a bug? Or am I missing something?
You should not see the same dependent twice on either the Federal or the California return unless you listed them twice with two different Social Security numbers.
Check your entries in the Federal section for Personal Info / My Info.
You may see both a regular (nonrefundable) credit and an Additional Child Tax Credit if you qualify for both.
California allows you a personal exemption credit of $149 and a dependent exemption credit of $461 per dependent. They are added together on Line 11 and appear again on Line 32.
If you qualify, you could also get a dependent care credit and an earned income credit.
See the California 540 instructions for more information.