How do I correct Tax ID on Form 8995-A, Schedule A?

[slowreader]

I'm an SSTB qualifying for a Qualified Business Deduction, but when I look at Form 8995-A, Schedule A, I see that my tax ID is entered as an EIN instead of an SSN with the result that there's an extra hyphen and the final digit is lost. When I click on Data Source, nothing comes up.

My tax ID is correctly entered as my SSN at the top of Schedule C in the format XXX-XX-XXXX. Why doesn't that carry over to Form 8995-A, Schedule A?

It doesn't come up as an error when I run the final review, so I assume I can e-file it nevertheless. But it is an outright error. How do I fix it?

(I tried to update my 1040 this morning but got it failed because I wasn't logged in as an administrator. So if this problem was fixed in the most recent update, I don't have it.)

Thanks!

[ThomasM125]

I think you are referring to Part I of Form 8995-A, column C. If so, that lists the federal identification number of the business to which the qualified business income applies. That number would be listed on the form or schedule the business income and expenses are listed on, typically a Schedule C for a sole-proprietor or Schedule E for a partnership or S corporation. The business federal ID number is often different from your social security number and will not pose a problem with the processing of your tax return.

If you look on the top of the Form 8995-A, you should see your social security number in the top right-hand corner.

[slowreader]

Yes, my SSN is correct at the top of Form 8995-A, in the format xxx-xx-xxxx

However, below that in Part I, line1, column (d) it's in the second line and incorrectly rendered as xx-x-xx-xxx, which is 8 digits instead of 9.

I now see that I was supposed to fill out Schedule A (an amazingly complicated Form!) first, and that the error apparently originates there. Part 1, Line 1b, reads xx-x-xx-xxx, and again I can neither correct it nor find a Data Source for it. I'm in the income range where I'm supposed to fill out Schedule A; all the information in there was apparently filled by TTax, and it is correct except for Line 1b. Schedules B through D have no information entered.

So I am still unable to correct that tax ID entry.

Thanks again!

[AmyC]

Two things to try:

1. Start with step by step in the business information. The program asks SSN or EIN and it sounds like SSN is trying to fit in EIN space due to the extra hyphen. Look for anything in step by step to describe this odd behavior and correct.
2. Since you are using desktop, switch over to Forms mode. Since data source isn't taking you anywhere, let's try a temporary override. 
   1. Override the value causing trouble. 
   2. Switch to step by step and go through that section again. 
   3. Return to forms mode and cancel the override. Hopefully, the program will hold the correct answer.

If you need to reply again, please let us know which form and line.