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New Member
posted Jun 6, 2019 1:40:00 PM

If I don't have a question -- I am trying to report a bug -- should I be worried that you don't accommodate bug reports?

"Box 9a. Your Percentage of Total Distribution If this is a total distribution and it is made to more than one person, enter the percentage received by the person whose name appears on Form 1099-R. You need not complete this box for any IRA distributions or for a direct rollover. "

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24 Replies
New Member
Jun 6, 2019 1:40:01 PM

I have been writing software for more than 30 years. Intiuit does a very good job of keeping the bug count low ... but, having said that, it needs to be pointed out that bug free development is a fantasy. I also found a bug (I found a work-around) and I am very disturbed that there is no software bug reporting mechanism.

Intuit can offer their software free if they want ... but any software user should be able to report a bug.

New Member
Jun 6, 2019 1:40:03 PM

I just TELEPHONED support and read off my list of bugs.  Not only did the attendant take down the list carefully, she also acknowledged that she had experienced some of the same bugs.  I don't think I've ever had such good service anywhere before.  I'm really delighted.

New Member
Jun 6, 2019 1:40:04 PM

The Feds rejected my tax forms with error F2210-003 due to a Turbotax bug.  The bug was introduced 2/15 with an upgrade.  After paying a $50 expect help fee, I was assured over the phone Sunday that the bug would be fixed Monday.  When I called back on Monday I was told the bug would be fixed today 2/22.  I received no information whether the fix happened.  After stumbling through incoherent paths, I can only conclude that I will have to pay to refile for a Turbotax bug, not being sure if the bug were fixed or not.          

New Member
Jun 6, 2019 1:40:05 PM

BTW, "Expert Help" has not returned my calls since the first one.  

New Member
Jun 6, 2019 1:40:07 PM

Today I noticed a bug, where removing or changing retiring allowance from box 66 in T4 does not recalculate RPP Deduction Worksheet. I tried to call support to report the bug, but after series of menus they put me on hold, and then hung up the phone. Intuit does not seem to have any service allowing users to file bug reports.

New Member
Jun 6, 2019 1:40:08 PM

Turbo Tax support sucks. I too have a bug to report but you can't talk to anyone. The audit risk erroneously reports that I am claiming debt cancellation, which I absolutely am not. This is a bug!!!!!

Level 1
Mar 15, 2020 3:32:20 PM

You are correct, it appears that there is no mechanism to report a Software Bug or to Suggest a Product improvement. 

Expert Alumni
Mar 16, 2020 2:38:30 PM

When you contact a support individual at TurboTax, an agent will attempt to resolve your issue. If the issue cannot be resolved by the agent, it is  "escalated" to the appropriate department and you will receive a callback, usually within a day, when a resolution has been found for the issue.

 

If there is a problem in the program, it will be transferred to the proper department or individual so it can be fixed.

 

So, the most effective way to report an issue with the TurboTax program is to contact us as follows:

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number/00/25632

 

Because of the complexity of the tax preparation process, it is best for us to have access to your tax return, in the form of a diagnostic copy, in order to expedite the corrective process. Consequently, a post here on community is not a preferred mechanism to report a problem with the TurboTax program.

 

 

Level 3
Mar 14, 2021 10:24:29 AM

This process isn't exactly how it happens.  I've called 3 times.  Spoke to 3 reps about a bug.  First rep apparently never actually opened a ticket.  The next 2 opened tickets after trying to push me off to a tax expert (I'm reporting an issue with turbo tax, I don't need tax help).  After about an hour I received emails that my case has been closed.  No contact from turbo tax.  No fix.  No information at all.  The CARES act in 2020 made some changes that turbo tax isn't handling.  It's surprising that a year has passed and they haven't updated their software.  Even sadder that they won't address the issue after multiple tickets have been opened.

Expert Alumni
Mar 14, 2021 2:39:03 PM

@aufderha3  You are commenting on an older thread, but there is no question that all of the tax law changes has created a real challenge in programming.  A lot of these provisions are intertwined with others, and some were passed very, very close to the start of the tax season, which has created logistics challenges.  Still, our desire is to make sure everyone can file accurately.  Feel free to comment here the challenge you are experiencing.  If it is a "known experience", we will share with you what we have on it.  If not, we will try to find a way to investigate further.

Level 3
Mar 14, 2021 3:29:53 PM

The problem I'm encountering should be a simple one.  During the step by step process if you answer "yes" to having a Net Operating Loss (NOL) there are no further questions.  At this point turbotax generates the election form to forgo the carryback option and carryforward the NOL.  Without any indication this was done.  What I want to do is a carryback.  Per the CARES act in early 2020 we can now carryback 5 years or forward indefinitely.  Turbotax mentions the TCJA but that info is no longer valid thanks to  the CARES act.  I read posts that there was a question in previous versions after you indicate you have an NOL that asks if you want to carryforward or backwards.  That's all I'm looking for is the choice to carryback and have the carryback election form generated so I can e-file my return.

 

Thank you for answering me.  I hope this is an update/fix that can be implemented.

Level 3
Mar 22, 2021 10:51:25 AM

DanielV01 were you able to find anything out?  Will Turbotax be including CARES info from 2020 or will they continue to reference the outdated TCJA?

Level 2
Nov 22, 2021 5:10:05 AM

I totally agree. As a programmer for over 30 years I believe a company who has no bug reporting facility to be run by conceited programmers who don't want to hear quality control issues.

Level 15
Nov 22, 2021 5:28:37 AM

Posting in this forum does "report the bug" if you care to  but if you are referring to the 2021 program then it is very buggy right now and not fully operational and will not be until many many updates have been applied.

 

 

Although the downloaded program becomes available every year sometime in  November with the online following sometime  in December  they are NOT fully operational programs ... they are only beta versions.  The final program and the state programs are never fully operational until late January at the earliest.  

 

http://taxpreparationsoftware.com/

                                    

 

ANY tax software released by any company prior to about January 15 is only released for marketing and market share.  No program is complete and ready to file until the IRS approves their final forms and then individually reviews each program's implementation of the form.  And some tax situations aren't able to be filed until February or March, again mostly due to IRS delays.

Level 2
Nov 22, 2021 5:41:01 AM

I understand that the program cannot file, nor do I expect it. But import PDF function should have been the same as the previous years. I don't see how this program can pass quality control with this bug.

Level 15
Nov 22, 2021 5:48:24 AM

@raoulwatson What are you trying to do?   By "import pdf" are you talking about transferring your 2020 tax file to the new 2021 return?   You transfer the tax file, not a pdf when you are trying to start your new return.

 

How to transfer last year’s return? https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900883

Level 2
Nov 22, 2021 5:56:30 AM

When you select "Browse" after you begin a new return you will see that you can import Turbotax .tax, OR - Import PDF from TaxAct, H&R Block. The import PDF does not work. You can try it by simply grabbing a PDF return which you might have such as a printout from Turbotax or others.  I don't have a .tax file from Turbotax because my old computer is dead. WHat is even more arsenine is that while I do have an online account from other years (2019 and 2018), I used the desktop for 2020 return and e-file but there is no copy of it on my online account, so generating a .tax file is impossible.

Level 15
Nov 22, 2021 5:59:47 AM

@raoulwatson If you used desktop software for your 2020 return the tax file is not stored in your online account.   It is only stored on your own hard drive or any back up device you used.

Level 15
Nov 22, 2021 6:21:14 AM

@raoulwatson 

 

It's always been that way. 

Importing from a different provider's  PDF gives spurious or incomplete results, anyway.

That's because tax programs depend on the worksheets embedded in the tax file.

Level 15
Nov 22, 2021 6:23:35 AM

@raoulwatson 

 

You cannot transfer a TT PDF into the program ... only other tax companies can be transferred from a PDF and the little that transfers is not worth the time to do it.

 

You have 2 options since you don't have the .taxfile to transfer :

1) start a new file from scratch and enter in any prior year info as needed

2) install the 2020 program, transfer in from 2019 then recreate the 2020 return to produce the .taxfile you need

 

 

This is my mini version of  a tutorial  that should be in the downloaded program: 

 

 

What is Forms Mode?

Forms Mode lets you view and make changes to your tax forms "behind the scenes."

If you're adventurous, you can even prepare your return in Forms Mode, but we don't recommend it. You may miss obscure credits and deductions you qualify for, and you may forget to report things that will come back and haunt you later.

Forms Mode is exclusively available in the TurboTax CD/Download software. It is not available in TurboTax Online.

                  

Related Information:

                             

If you want to play around with different figures and tax scenarios without affecting your original return you can ….

  • >>>In the TurboTax CD/Download software by creating a test copy
  • 1.  Open your return in TurboTax. 
  • 2.  From the File menu, choose Save As. 
  • 3.  Give the copy a new name to distinguish it from the original (for example, by adding "Test" or "Example" to the file name). 
  • 4. Click  Save. You are now safely working in the test copy and anything you do here will not affect the original. 
  •  https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900642-how-to-make-a-test-copy-of-your-return

                        

  • >>  use the WHAT IF tool: 
  • - Click Forms Icon (upper right of screen) or Ctrl 2 (forms view) 
  • - Click on the Open Form Icon 
  • - In the “Type a form name.” area type What-If (with the dash), click on the name of the worksheet - click on Open Form 
  • - You will see the worksheet on the right side of the screen; enter the information right into the form 
  • - To get back to interview mode - click on the Step-by-Step Icon (upper right of screen) or Ctrl 1

 

Once you have filed shut off the auto updater function and save the return and .taxfile.

 

It's always a good idea to make a backup copy of your tax data file, in case your original gets lost or corrupted.

Here's how:

  1. From the File menu in the upper-left corner of TurboTax, choose Save As (Windows) or Save (Mac).
  2. Browse to where you want to save your backup.
    • Tip: If you're saving to a portable device, save it to your computer first to prevent data corruption. Then, after completing Step 4, copy or move the backup file to your device.
  3. In the File name field, enter a name that will distinguish it from the original tax file (for example, add "Backup" or "Copy" to the file name)
  4. Click Save and then close TurboTax.
  5. Restart TurboTax and open the backup copy to make sure it's not corrupted. If you get an error, delete the backup and repeat these steps.

If you make changes to your original tax return file, repeat these steps to ensure your original and backup copies are in-synch.

Related Information:                             

 

AND save it as a PDF so you have access to a copy even if you don’t have the program still installed and operational :

AND protect the files :

 

*** Other clues to the downloaded program ***

 

In the forms mode ... double click  or right click on a box on a form to data source it ... sadly it doesn't work on all boxes. 

 

What's the meaning of all the different colors in Forms Mode?

When you look at an onscreen tax form using Forms Mode, you might wonder why one figure is blue and the one next to it is red or black.

These colors indicate the source of that data.

Color

 Meaning

Blue

You entered this data, either in the interview or Forms Mode.

Black

The program entered this data or calculated this amount.

Red

This data has either been overridden or is invalid (for example, a ZIP code that doesn't exist).

Red italics

You marked this amount as estimated.

Black italics

The program calculated this amount from an amount you marked as estimated.

Purple

This information has supporting details.

Aquamarine

This data was transferred over from last year.

Green

This data was imported from Quicken or QuickBooks.

Yellow fields (Windows)

Yellow fields allow user input. Anything you enter here shows up in blue.

Level 15
Nov 22, 2021 9:27:58 AM

@raoulwatson   You can't transfer a pdf you made from a scanned printout.  It has to be an actual electronic pdf from the program.  And I don't think you can transfer a Turbo Tax PDF into the Turbo Tax program, it has to be the tax data file ending in .tax2020.   Didn't you make any backups when you were done filing last year?  

 

Are you on Windows or Mac?

How to Transfer into the Windows Desktop program
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/entering-importing/help/transfer-last-year-s-return-to-turbotax-for-windows/00/26145


How to Transfer from a pdf into the Windows Desktop program
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/can-i-transfer-last-year-s-pdf-into-the-turbotax-for-windows-cd-download-software/00/27259

 

 

Level 2
Nov 22, 2021 12:17:16 PM

Oh I have backups, one I e-filed and I have the pdf that TurboTax generated (oh I forgot TurboTax can’t import its own PDF… LOL). They’re not scanned, real PDF file. I’m not sure why the community seems to be defending Intuit. It’s not too much to ask the ability to import things from PDF. Almost everyone creates PDF, all my tax documents W2s are online in PDF format.

I think I’m not asking too much. If I can sit down for a day and write code to import PDF, I’m sure the programmers at Intuit can do it as well.

Level 15
Nov 22, 2021 12:23:55 PM

Sorry ... transferring info from a PDF is like taking a picture of your  pet to a VET and asking them to perform surgery on it ... it just will not work.  The income tax program is way to intricate to get the information needed from a static picture. 

 

And when you import  from informational forms like a W-2 only the figures are pulled from the form into the program (sometimes poorly) but the actual form itself .  Many folks are surprised  when TT doesn't have the form itself even if they take a picture of it when they completed the interview ... the form itself is not saved. 

Level 15
Nov 22, 2021 12:35:02 PM

If you have backups, don't you have the .tax2020 file backed up too?  You would need to keep that file if you ever needed to amend or open your return in the future in addition to Transferring into 2021.