Why sign in to the Community?

  • Submit a question
  • Check your notifications
Sign in to the Community or Sign in to TurboTax and start working on your taxes
New Member
posted Jun 6, 2019 6:11:19 AM

How do I enter a negative number in Turbotax?

0 10 3838
10 Replies
Intuit Alumni
Jun 6, 2019 6:11:20 AM

Just enter a minus sign in front of the number (-5000).  However, some fields will not take a negative entry. 

New Member
Feb 17, 2023 8:04:55 AM

My turbo tax agent was great 

New Member
Mar 10, 2023 10:57:16 AM

How to key a negative amount in TurboTax?

Level 15
Mar 10, 2023 3:00:10 PM

As suggested above, you can often enter a minus sign before a figure, such as -500, to reflect a negative amount.

However, not all fields in TurboTax will accept negative entries.

If a negative amount is not accepted in the spot you want in TurboTax, please provide more information:

  • What section of TurboTax are you working in?
  • What is the screen title?
  • Are you working in the federal section, or in the state section?
  • If you’re working in the state section, what state?
  • Are you entering a specific form? 
  • Are you trying to claim a particular credit or deduction?

Level 1
Apr 16, 2023 9:07:13 PM

schedule c "other income" won't accept a negative number.  is there a work around

Level 15
Apr 16, 2023 9:18:54 PM

@whook910 

Why do you need a negative number?

Level 1
Apr 16, 2023 9:29:22 PM

loss from trading business

Expert Alumni
Apr 17, 2023 5:44:12 AM

A self-employment activity may report a loss but the loss is computed by reporting expenses that exceed income.  You are not allowed to report a negative income item.  However, you may report a refund of income received.

 

To add a self-employment expense, follow these steps:

 

  • Down the left side of the screen, click on Federal.
  • Across the top of the screen, click on Wages and Income.
  • Under Your income, scroll down to Self-employment.  Click Show more.
  • Click on Start / Edit/Add to the right of Self-employment income and expenses.
  • At the screen Your self-employed work summary, click Edit to the right of the activity.
  • At the screen Here's your info, scroll down the expenses and click Add expenses for this work.
  • Follow the directions to enter the expense.

@whook910 

New Member
Apr 28, 2023 9:36:14 AM

I am trying to enter a negative number for box 135 of the T5013 data entry pages

Level 15
Apr 28, 2023 9:37:06 AM


@Dar77rell wrote:

I am trying to enter a negative number for box 135 of the T5013 data entry pages


This is the TurboTax US user community website.
Go to this TurboTax Canada website for assistance with a Canadian tax return or the TurboTax Canada editions - https://turbotax.community.intuit.ca/turbotax-support/en-ca