New 1040 Box - Main home in US for more than half of 2025

[UKTaxQuestions]

Hi all, when reviewing 2025's tax returns I noticed a checkbox on the right side of page 1 stating:

"Check here if your main home, and your
spouse’s if filing a joint return, was in
the U.S. for more than half of 2025."

This is true for my spouse and I, but no matter how I change our personal info section, I can't seem to get Turbotax to check it. Has anyone else noticed this section? Any idea how to get it checked in Turbotax before e-filing?

I'm using TurboTax Online Do It Yourself Premium 2025. Thanks!

[bg3113]

I have the same problem! Hope support can address this issue ASAP

[user17693944214]

I am having the same problem.  There is no spot to check the box.  What does it effect on the return?

[didaviscpa]

Anybody have an answer??????

[UKTaxQuestions]

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@didaviscpa wrote:

Anybody have an answer??????

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I asked about it on the Turbotax facebook page and eventually got this response in a private chat:

You're Welcome! As we're committed on assisting you through this. Can you navigate directly to the Federal section, select Deductions and Credits and scroll until you see the section Earned Income credit and go through the questions again to ensure you have not indicated that you or your spouse lives outside the U.S. Please let us know if you find any area filled out indicating you or your spouse lives outside the U.S - Tyaisha

I didn't qualify for the earned income credit (EIC), so what I had to do is:

1. Modify my income section to allow the EIC questions to proceed
2. Answer the question about living in the US for 6+ months in the EIC section
3. Check the box that says I don't want to claim the EIC (since I didn't qualify to begin with)
4. Correct my income back to it's original values

After taking these steps, I can now see the box checked on form 1040. I'll be thoroughly reviewing all forms again for accuracy, and recommend anyone that takes these steps do the same. YMMV.

It would be nice if Turbotax included that question up front in the personal info section instead of having to take this workaround.

[didaviscpa]

How did you modify your income section ?

[UKTaxQuestions]

In my case I had to lower the amounts on boxes 1, 3, 5, and 16 from my W2 so my reported income fell below our limit for EIC. After answering the EIC questions, I went back and corrected the W2 amounts, and thankfully the US residence box was checked. I also reviewed every page on the final forms to make sure nothing else was changed after that hassle 🙄

I'd keep track of your federal and state return/owed amounts before changing any income to make sure they're still the same afterwards, since the only goal here is to check the new box on page 1 of 1040.  It's annoying, but the EIC section seems to do the trick. It (kinda) makes sense with the instructions for 1040 stating:

Main home was in the U.S. If your main home (and spouse if filing a joint return) was in the U.S. for over half of 2025, check the box on the front of Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Providing this information will help the IRS determine your eligibility for certain tax benefits, including the earned income credit.

[didaviscpa]

Since I am retired and do not have any W-2 income, I would have to make a phony W-2 and remove all my retirement income, all my dividends, and all my social security income. Seems like a lot of work just to get a checkmark that probably doesn't mean anything except cause a question of why there is no checkmark. You would think Turbotax would have a simple question to be marked in the personal info section. I notice that there is a question in the personal info concerning being blind, passed away during the year, etc. where you can check that "none of the above" apply , but it does not stay checked????

[didaviscpa · Accepted solution]

Finally figured it out!!!!

1. Go to forms view - Forms in My Return

2. Go to Info Wks

3. Go to Part IV - Earned Income Credit Information

4. Second item asks the question "was in US for more than half of 2025"- answer Yes

5. It will now be checked on your 1040/1040SR

[KHOLD2026]

This worked for me! How tedious but rather have it checked. Thank you so much. 

[user17696953416]

Apparently, you should only be checking this box if you live outside the US and you still have a residence in the US where you could live more than half the year. Basically, if you have a US address and live there year round, this box should be unchecked.

[KHOLD2026]

Where did you get this information from? I have not found anything that states this. 

[didaviscpa]

For user [phone number removed]:

What you posted is NOT true:

The checkbox confirming your main home was in the U.S. for more than half the year is used by the IRS to determine your eligibility for specific tax benefits, such as the Head of Household filing status, the Earned Income Credit, or to verify residency requirements for energy credits. It confirms your primary residence for tax purposes. 

Key reasons for this checkbox include:

• Head of Household Eligibility: It helps verify that you paid more than half the cost of keeping up a home for you and a qualifying person, a key requirement for this filing status.
• Tax Credits: It ensures you meet residency requirements for credits like the Earned Income Credit (EIC) or the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit.
• Residency Verification: It confirms your principal place of abode, which can be a house, apartment, or other temporary lodging, for at least half the year (or over 183 days). 

If the box is not checked, it may limit your ability to claim certain tax benefits, Intuit TurboTax notes. 

[user17691943084]

Same here - I'm using TurboTax Deluxe desktop version. There is no option in the personal information section nor in the "Other Tax Situations" section where the checkbox is for the presidential campaign box.

[TAX1151]

How do you go to forms view - forms in my return?