California Insurance penalty calculation error?

[satoshi77]

I have a question about my California Insurance penalty. I don't have insurance for the whole year because I went out of U.S. for more than 330 days on 2021. I think I can exempt from the penalty. When I choose the first option"Spent 330 days or more outside U.S.", however,  I finally got an additional $400 penalty in turbotax desktop software. Then, I really don't know why my penalty is not waived. Could you tell me how to correctly choose, or is it a software error? By the way, I have a 1 year old baby stay outside U.S. with me for the whole year. He is my dependent. Thank you very much in advance!

[satoshi77]

I may found the reason. The $400 may come from my kid. But in the software, I can not choose "Stay more than 330 days"option for him. I really don't know how to choose the right option for my case....

[LenaH]

Please ensure you are selecting the months out of the country for your dependent. 

To do so, please follow the instructions below:

1. Open your California return. 
2. On the screen Did you have health insurance coverage in 2021? select I'll pick who had it and which months.
3. Select the months.
4. Select Spent 330 days or more outside US.
5. Select the months out of the country for you and your dependent. 
6. Follow the on-screen instructions
7. The penalty should be waived.

@satoshi77

[saaaa]

Thanks very much for your quick reply!

I think so too. I select all the months for us both.  I tried it one more time, but I don't why nothing changed. The $400 penalty is still there.

My turbotax version is Home&Business(Windows)

Regards,

[LenaH]

It would be helpful to have a TurboTax ".tax2021" file that is experiencing this issue. You can send us a “diagnostic” file that has your “numbers” but not your personal information. If you would like to do this, here are the instructions for TurboTax Download:

1. On your menu bar at the very top, click "Online"
2. Select "Send Tax File to Agent"
3. Click "Send"
4. The pop-up will have a token number
5. Reply to this thread with your Token number. This will allow us to open a copy of your return without seeing any personal information. 

We will then be able to see exactly what you are seeing and we can determine what exactly is going on in your return and provide you with a resolution.

@saaaa

[saaaa]

HI,

Thanks very much for your quick reply!

My token number is 995735.

I even tried with Turbotax Online Version, but it gives me the same result:extra $400 penalty. Now I feel frustrated. The deadline is coming. Please help.

Thank you very much in advance.

[LenaH]

If you are using TurboTax Desktop, please follow the instructions below:

1. Open your return.
2. Go to Forms view.
3. Go to your California forms and find Form 3853.
4. Go to Part III, Line B for your dependent.
5. Click on the X under your dependent's name.
6. Use the drop-down menu to select the letter D (Citizens Living Abroad and Others).
7. Your penalty will be removed.

@saaaa

[saaaa]

Ohh.. I see... Thank you very much for your instruction! I guess Turbotax would fix it in the future. 😊