I spent hours talking to customer service and eventually a CPA because TurboTax couldn't handle 403(b) and 457 accounts correctly. CPA agreed that program is broken.

[ssurgan44]

When TurboTax prepared the W2 Summary form, it added together my pre-tax 403b contributions and the Roth contributions I made to be 457 plan. Then it told me that I had exceeded the limit for 401(k) contributions. It wouldn't let me e-file because of this error and there was no way to correct it. The CPA I was talking to eventually just said "Sorry, bro, the program is broken."

This is nonsense because:

1) 403(b) and 457 plans are not 401(k)s. They are similar in some ways but they are not 401(k)s.

2) 403(b) and 457 plans have *separate* contribution limits. TurboTax seemed to think that it was a problem that my combined 403b and 457 contributions exceeded $18,500. That is the limit for *each* account, not a combined limit.

This cost me hours of my life and I'm very unhappy with this purchase. Buyer beware.

@dmertz: Nobody involved (not me, not customer service) could find anything about this. A link would be appreciated.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like a few days of moderator attention has resulted in either the spread of information or a solution. Intuit has dropped the ball on this.

[dmertz]

The moderators do not seem to have addressed this reported issue yet.  Even though the workaround (mail the tax return) is rather undesirable, it usually takes an unpredictable amount of time for TurboTax Product Quality to confirm an issue like this and to get it on the development schedule if they agree it's an issue; it always tends to be a bit frustrating.

Here the question by the other person who reported this issue:
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/4695189-what-is-the-max-on-both-roth-401-k-and-roth-457-turbo-will...>

[ssurgan44]

Thanks for the link. It's too bad that such a popular tax tool is broken in such an important way. It's even worse that it's allowed to stay broken for an unpredictable amount of time. Frustrating is right.

[mkalani]

You need to correct this issue otherwise I waste my money and time buy and working on your software

[nancychav1]

A related area with 457, 401 roth still needs to be fixed.  Turbo tax issued a one-part correction on 4-5 on the w-2 for the catchup provision allowing it to be 27500,  but it did not fix the error on the w-2 summary.  This is a big problem.  Why should we buy Turbo Tax if they can't fix it so we can e-file.  This is very, very frustrating.  Please let us know that you are working on it.  Fix the w-2 summary for catchup provision

[jsimmons721]

This problem is also impacting my NYS return, since I am unable to e-file my state until I file my federal 1st. Now what do I do because TurboTax says I have to e-file my NYS return?

[estherkaplan6]

I also just had problems related to my 403(b) account where TurboTax was saying I had exceeded the limit and owed penalties when I did not.

[richard727]

They hire cheap cpa they could had fix mine but they did not want to stay on the phone had to callback 5 times my time ran becaue I call 3 months earlier  and the CPA gave me the wrong information. They use to have very good CPA I guess they just want  to make the money and screen the poeple. what do they care if you get audit.   

[richard727]

I have to fix it before 4-15-2018

[richard727]

or I lose$40K induction its 1:10 pm 2015 tax return because Turbo did not ask the right question. they siad do not do your taxes in 2014 you have no income but I bought a house to fix up. 2015 they did not ask how to put in the price I paid or up grade. If I could get thsis in and I have to do amend on 2015,16,17. I did not get any depresation. I am very up set .I am Dyslexic  it very hard to write.     

[dmertz]

This was mentioned by another individual a few days ago and has been brought to the attention of the moderators.

[ssurgan44]

*deleted*

[dmertz]

This problem appears to be fixed with the R24 release of 2018 TurboTax on 4/4/2019.

[SweetieJean]

@dmertz But users are still reporting this as a problem, even today (4/7)..

[dmertz]

The *specific* problem described in the question seems to have been corrected.  That involved regular Roth contributions to both a 403(b) and to a 457(b).

However, TurboTax is still unable to accommodate the special catch-up contributions that are permitted to 403(b) and 457(b) plans.