Clergy tax problem -- error when trying to file

[jw1578]

I'm a licensed minister (dual-status employee with a housing allowance) who works for a ministry organization, but I became licensed in February. Therefore, there was a little bit of money withheld for Federal, State, Social Security and Medicare for the month of January when I was still just a W-2 employee. But, from February onwards there was no money withheld from my paycheck -- rather, I had to start paying estimated quarterly taxes.

TurboTax won't let me file my tax return, and keeps giving me this message, "Housing W-2 Box should not be checked if social security or Medicare tax has been withheld on this W-2."

The problem is, my missions organization sent me one W-2 that has my housing allowance on it and all the money I made last year, plus the money that was withheld in January. I've asked them if they can send me two W-2s instead, one being the month I wasn't licensed, and one being the month that I was licensed. But they said they are unable to do that, and recommend I see an accountant rather than use TurboTax because of this situation.

Since I've already spent more than $100 on TurboTax, I just wanted to check. Is there anything I can do on my end about this error, or will I just need to have an accountant file this year?

[MaryK4]

You can bifurcate the W2 entries.  Enter the January information on the W2 entry.  Next, Add a W2 with the February and later info.  On the " Let's check for uncommon situations" indicate Didn't get a W2 or received an incorrect W2 (manually calculate my earnings) and Religious Employment.  You will be asked if you want to certify and submit the 4852, which is a substitute W2 which is generally used when you do not receive a W2--SAY NO!  When you have finished the entry, the income will still be included on your return.  Check it over carefully, and post back here if you have any issues (and tag me) and I will see if I can help.

[Opus 17]

Agreed.  Create 2 "fake" W-2s, one using the pre-license information and one using after-license information with the housing allowance.