I have a $4k Business Credit showing in Turbotax but it won't let me use any of it to offset $2.3k of tax liability, with the rest carrying fwd to next year ... Why not?

[ThomasM125]

It would depend on what the business credit is for, can you clarify better please?

[wilmir]

The Business Credit is from a K-1, whereby an Investment Energy Credit (solar) was passed through to me as a K-1 shareholder.  When I was entering my K-1 info, it prompted me to select what kind of credit it is, which seems to have flowed over correctly onto the Form 3800 worksheet.  I am aware this type of General Business Credit is nonrefundable and can carry-forward & back, but I see no valid reason why I can't use part of the $4K credit this year to offset by $2k tax liability.   In my Summary, it clearly shows I have a $4k Business Credit.  

[RobertB4444]

The energy credit can only be used to offset income tax.  Once it has reduced your income tax to zero the rest gets carried forward to next year.  In your case you also have self-employment tax on your return.  The energy credits can not be used to reduce your self-employment tax bill.  Self-employment tax is the social security and medicare due on your self-employment income.  Energy credits can't be used to reduce that.

@wilmir 

[wilmir]

Ok, thanks, that makes sense.

But I did have some income tax withheld from my W2 (not a lot but some), so why wouldn't I be able to use my Business Credit to offset the withheld income tax.  The message TT showed me was that I used $0 of my $4k Business Credit.

Also, just curious, how did you know I have self-employment tax on my return.  Do you work for Intuit TT and can see my Return?