I need to attach a Form 5471 to my Federal return. Does this mean I can only file by mail? Also, can I file by mail and elect to have my refund deposited into my bank?

[Husky1977]

Can anyone else confirm that I can e-file without Form 5471 first and later mail in Form 5471? 

Thanks,
ZX

[ShirlynW]

No. You cannot e-file your federal return and mail Form 5471. The instructions state," attach form to your income return and both file by the due date."

[blackie411]

I have been using TT since MACInTax, which I used many years before TT absorbed it. How long is that?  More than 20 years, I am sure. 

Well, this is the last year for TT.  TT has LOST me for good. 

I do NOT need to file Form 5471, but I do need to add a disclosure statement regarding the partnership I belong to that does File the 5471 (as I am more than a 10% owner).  Additionally, I must add a Schedule P from a Form 5471 along with that disclosure. 

I have 3 state returns to file too, so now ALL 4 returns (the Federal and the 3 states) MUST be paper filed, as a Federal return must be done as an eFile in order to eFile the states.  One state is NY, so I will have to explain to NY on the paper filing why it could not be sent as an eFile due to these miserable TT limitations in their product.

Given the ATTITUDE of TT that not enough taxpayers need forms they do not support, it will be bye-bye TT and good riddance!  I will scrape TT right off my shoe and be glad their stench is gone - for good!

[xmasbaby0]

@blackie411 

New York prefers e-filed returns, but there are certain circumstances that make it necessary for you to file your NY return by mail and the state DOES allow mailed returns.    If you could not or did not e-file your federal return then your NY return cannot be e-filed.   It has to be mailed.   It is not possible to e-file any state return if the federal return was not e-filed and accepted by the IRS.

https://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/efile/efile_mandate_for_individuals.htm

https://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/file/return_assembly_mail.htm

[blackie411]

xmasbaby0,

Thanks for your remarks.  However, I thought the post of mine to which you replied demonstrated that I already knew all this about NY's exception to eFiling and why I was unable to eFile the Federal, as well as the states by virtue of a domino effect. 

I've used this exception previously, but it is galling that TurboTax is so ill-equipped to deal with a pretty simple foreign disclosure compliance issue and FORCES me to eFile all my returns as a consequence.    I now HATE TurboTax and would like a full refund for the displeasure this slight to the customers caused. 

A number of people here have this same issue, based on he posts here.  As the world grows smaller, there will be more and more taxpayers that require such foreign disclosures. 

It is INSANE that we cannot even eFile with an attached PDF, when other software offers that flexibility.  And, I have NJ BAIT and the TurboTax program stated it was the NJ Division of Taxation rules that prevent my eFiling a NJ return that has BAIT.  THAT IS RUBBISH - blaming the state when it is the incapability of the program that does not allow a NJ eFile with a BAIT claim. 

TurboTax is doing less and less.  I hope this product craters.  Intuit brought this headache on and they deserve my scorn and a loss of market share.

[xmasbaby0]

@blackie411 

" I now HATE TurboTax and would like a full refund for the displeasure this slight to the customers caused. "

No one in the user forum can issue a refund to you.   And....when you use TurboTax, you are not guaranteed that you will be able to e-file.   The fee for using online TurboTax is the same whether you e-file or mail the return in an envelope.  You paid to use the software to prepare your return--you did not pay an extra fee to e-file.

But, you can have that discussion with customer support.

No one in the user forum can resolve a billing issue.  If you have a question about your TurboTax fees or billing, make sure you use the word “billing” in your request for help.  Do not use the word “refund.”

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899263-what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number

[blackie411]

xmasbaby0

My guess is you reached Level 15 since you like to post and do so a great deal.  I just have to question if what you post is insightful, or just blabber.

Your last post in reply to mine is nonsense, as you certainly do NOT comprehend what others write.  I thought it was pretty clear what I was expressing was exasperation on a forum and NOT expecting anyone on the forum to refund me the cost of TurboTax, which would be utterly preposterous; for you to interpret my post as such is completely ridiculous and frankly just idiotic. 

I don't expect TurboTax to refund me a cent either.  I used their product, so while I should pay for that, they failed to disclose their shortcomings of what they do not support. 

I have used TurboTax all the way back to the days of MACinTax, before the products were melded into one.  This was the first year I needed a form they do not support, nor does TurboTax offer a means to attach a PDF to an eFile, which is absurd, as that would have been an effective workaround to the failure to support a filing of a Form 5471.  

As TurboTax is a software provider for tax compliance, my view, though perhaps not yours, is the provider should openly disclose their inabilities, or shortcomings, on their packaging, so prospective users are on alert and can make an informed decision as to what they are actually purchasing.  If something like a list on the packaging of what the software does NOT provide is NOT practical, then supply an OBVIOUS message on the packaging to first check before buying a specific webpage that lists all the things the software will not perform. 

Is that not reasonable?  Frankly, I don't really care what you answer.

[blackie411]

Being unable to add a PDF disables eFile Federal option?  That makes it sound like it is an IRS issue, but where is your authority for this statement,?  I believe what you say is true of TurboTax, but not professional level software options, which I do believe can have PDF attachments and still provide an eFile submission.

[xmasbaby0]

@blackie411 You are asking about this in the user forum for TurboTax software, so the reply you are getting pertains to TurboTax do-it-yourself tax software.   If you want to use a professional tax preparer, then do that, and perhaps they can attach a pdf for you or suggest some other way to provide your information to the IRS.   

[blackie411]

xmasbaby0

I think you'd be better served by just putting a fork in it.  You are not getting my meaning and I do not think that is on me.

I have made statements to this forum on this subject and NOT asked questions.  I know the answers to the questions.

I have prepared taxes for a living for 45 years.  I have CPA licenses in three states.

I use professional software at my office and know that professional software (CCH) can perform these functions.  I have simply chosen to NOT use that professional software to prepare my own returns and those of my family at my office, so I do not use office hours on personal matters. 

I was able to use this (TurboTax) off-the-shelf software for years and it was satisfactory, but no more.  It is a failure for some, obviously, from what has been written here.

In speaking with a partner of mine, who can likewise use the office tax software, if he chose to do so, he uses the Intuit professional version at home, probably for the same reason I was not using the office software.  I'd not looked into the Intuit professional version of the software, given I was able to make the off-the-shelf version do what I needed, but now I'll simply just use the office software going forward.

As eFiling has just become too pervasive and frankly easier than to keep filing on paper, I do not want to be forced to paper file in the future.  I want a CHOICE. 

During the pandemic, my paper filing of the Federal return for 2020 took 11 months to get processed and that was only due to filing a Form 911 with the TAXPAYER ADVOCATE SERVICE (TAS).  While the IRS cashed my balance due check sent with the paper filed return within 4 days of mailing, the slow processing of the return itself created a problem with the SE tax deferral election that was made available for 2020, given the IRS did not know for 11 months that I had chosen to defer and that SE deferral remains a contentious issue over improperly charged interest, as the IRS is flat out wrong and that was caused solely by this 11-month processing delay.

So, there is no point to using a software product that is going to default me to paper filing simply due to its deficiencies.  End of story.