Has anyone else who filed been rejected due to turbo tax's mess up with QMID codes on the residential energy credits? quite annoyed

[knapphome2003]

I filed my return and it was rejected due to some issue with the QMID code on one of my heat pumps. I'm ticked off that they allowed me to file and get rejected when they must know it's messed up.

[plpollack]

Thanks for your post.  I'll be entering this info as well for my HVAC upgrade, so I'll be on the lookout for the issue.

[MarilynG1]

Here's a list of Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit qualified manufacturers from the IRS.  If you don't have a QMID Code for the specific part you're claiming a credit for, check with the manufacturer.

@plpollack 

[plpollack]

@MarilynG1-

I have entered the info for my new A/C.

I did not have a "Home energy audits by a certified home energy auditor," so I entered zero for that line and did not get the A/C credit.  Entering $1 works.

Instructions for Form 5695, "Residential Energy Credits," state:

Line 26a. To qualify for the credit, a home energy audit must have
included an inspection of your main home located in the United
States and a written report prepared by a Qualified Home Energy
Auditor or under the supervision of a Qualified Home Energy Auditor.
If you check the “No” box, you can't claim the home energy audit credit. [emphasis added]"

Furthermore, Form 5695 asks for A/C information before it asks about energy audits.

This seems to be a TurboTax bug, not an IRS requirement for the credit.

Thanks.

[MarilynG1]

No, a Home Energy Audit is not required to claim the Home Energy Credit, but you can get an extra credit for it if you had one.  It's best to leave it blank (not $0) if you didn't have one.

Here's more detailed info on the Home Energy Credit.

@plpollack 

[plpollack]

@MarilynG1 

I agree with your comment about the audit not required, as I noted in my comment about the order of questions on Form 5695 (Residential Energy Credits) and the verbiage in the form's instructions.

BUT - also as I said earlier - this is a Turbo Tax bug - unless I specify a non-zero amount for the audit (I did not have one), Turbo Tax is NOT giving me the A/C credit.

So, I am forced to specify $1 for the audit I did not have, and then Turbo Tax correctly enters Form 5695, and I get my $600 credit.

This is DEFINITELY a Turbo Tax bug.

[MarilynG1]

I tested this in TurboTax Deluxe by looking at Form 5695 for errors.  I did have an error for not entering an amount for a Home Energy Audit, although it was not highlighted in red on the form.

I went back through the interview screens for this section and sure enough there was a question about a 'Home Energy Audit' that was marked 'Yes'.  I don't believe I indicated it the first time through, but in any case, changed it to 'No' and returned to Form 5695.  No errors!  I doubt you'll have an issue over this, but just wanted to pass on the info.

@plpollack 

[plpollack]

@MarilynG1 

I have now re-tested and everything is now fine.

I also went back and found the Audit question marked YES and also do not remember doing so.

It is now NO, and I get my $600 credit for the new A/C.

I'm wondering - is the "Did you have an Audit" question new?"  If so, upon re-opening my file, Turbo Tax would have set it to "Yes" if I had $1 in the Audit amount field on the following screen.  That would explain why I (and you?) did not remember setting it.

Side note: If you check YES but do not enter an Audit amount, the box turns red and you get a red triangle/exclamation point error.

I checked for updates first and got the 2/12 update - was this fixed in this update?

Many thanks for your expert assistance.

[tohmy]

I have tried to enter no and put 0. It still has an error message. Can you let me know how I can fix it and continue my e-file? 

[plpollack]

Since you entered "no," what happens when you just leave the value blank?

[tohmy]

If I leave it blank. The form has a 0 on it which detected an error on the form and highlighted with red 0.

Can you show me how to delete the form or section, so I can restart it again? I am using Mac download desktop version. 

Or, I have to start entering all the information from a new start?  

[plpollack]

You might go to Forms mode and delete the 0 from the form.

[MarilynG1]

Switch to Forms Mode by selecting the Forms icon. From the menu, select the form you want to remove (if you don't see it, select Open Form at the top). From the Forms menu, select Remove [form name].

@tohmy 

[dkissel]

Yep, mine was just rejected because of the Energy Credit I submitted.  Says to check back mid-march and try to submit it again due to some problem.  Wonderful TurboTax strikes again.  

[moreilly_2]

When I tried to send my returns, I was prompted and informed that this will be fixed on 3/6.