Efile with form 3520

[BillM223]

I imagine that TurboTax does not e-file the 3520 for the simple reason that the IRS will not accept it by e-file. 

The IRS instructions for the 3520 still state

Send Form 3520 to the following address.

Internal Revenue Service Center
P.O. Box 409101
Ogden, UT 84409

Taxpayers need to understand that filing anything is a two-way street - not only must TurboTax have the software to send it electronically, but the IRS must have the software to receive it.

At this point, the IRS does not have the capability (or perhaps the desire) to receive the 3520 electronically.

[Cincilla]

The problem is that, while the IRS allows e-filing of the rest of the rest of the return, requiring only that the 3520 be sent by mail, Turbotax, as of the last couple of years,  no longer supports that. So instead the entire return must be mailed to one address and form 3520 to another. 

[DaveF1006]

You should be able to efile your return and send the 3520 by mail. I am not aware that you need to mail your return unless you are including the 3520 with your return.

[mallanmba]

"You should be able to efile your return and send the 3520 by mail." 

Yes, exactly - but 2023 and 2024 Turbo Tax will refuse to allow E-Filing if you state in your 1040 that you have 3520 and 3520a forms to file. You should be able to E-File your 1040 and send form 3520 and 3520a by mail, but TurboTax no longer allows it.

This is a bug in TurboTax 2024 and 2023 - how can it be reported? I have not found any way to inform Intuit so they can fix the issue.

-Mark

[BillM223]

You are correct that if you state that you have a 3520 and have filled out some information relating to it, TurboTax apparently will not let you e-file. This is on the enhancement list.

Please tell us, have you to tried deleting the references to the 3520 and e-filing? Of course, if anything you are reporting on the 3520 has an effect on your 1040, you will need to enter that separately.

[treasure hunt]

The only place referring 3520 is Form 8938 Part 4. Since I report 3520 because I inherit, it does not affect any other part of the rest of tax return.

[mallanmba]

Yes, if I go back and say that I have zero 3520 and zero 3520a forms to file, TurboTax will let me E-File. But we have to file our taxes "under penalty of perjury" and in reality, I do have 3520 forms and 3520a forms to file.

Prior to 2023, we could E-File our return and send in the 3520 and 3520a forms by mail. This is how it should be.

The number of 3520 and 3520a forms are stated in Part IV of form 8938. Ironically, immediately underneath Part IV, there is a statement "For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the separate instructions." TurboTax not allowing E-Filing if someone has 3520s to file is generating a ridiculous amount of paperwork! In order not to perjure myself, I am forced to send my federal and state taxes by mail - over 100 pages.

"This is on the enhancement list." So Intuit did this deliberately? How is this an enhancement? It's a bug that is forcing people to mail in paper returns unnecessarily. How can feedback about this issue make it back to Intuit so they can fix it?

[TAD-SAT]

Preamble, please note I do not work for Intuit. Just a guy (mechanical engineer) trying to get his taxes done for Uncle Sam. For IRS Form-3520 using TurboTax, what I did for FY2023 taxes was complete and printed out the 3520 from TurboTax, signed, and sent USPS (with tracking) to the IRS PO Box in Ogden, UT.  Make sure you get & keep a copy of the USPS tracking receipt. Then I deleted all information in TurboTax relating for Form-3520 and submitted the rest of my tax forms electronically, which were accepted and I promptly received my refund. Since I submitted both the Form-3520 by mail, and electronic submission for the rest of my taxes, April, 2024, I haven't heard a "peep" from the IRS. Are they going to come knocking at my door because my electronically submitted tax form didn't have a box checked off?  I doubt it, especially with the headcount cuts being done by the current Trump Administration.  So don't get all upset with Intuit, who probably know about the issue but can't fix it because there's some ridiculous/arcane rule from the US Government not allowing them to fix it. Just do what I did and "furgetaboutit". You're welcome + good luck to everyone with your taxes.  TAD-SAT

[spsefton]

Exactly my experience also. No one has come after me (yet) for e-filing my taxes and manually posting my form. OK, you may need to duplicate information but just go with it. If they want to audit you in the future it will more likely because of something you said on Facebook rather than this.

[KenWalking]

Same problem filing 2024 tax return ... whole year and they have not fixed it ...

[KenWalking]

I second that, this bug NEEDS TO BE FIXED ASAP.  Not being able to e-file the full 1040, simply because of the 3520 is being filed, when IRS allows you to file the 3520 separately.  This is a significant bug, that I hope TT prioritized to resolve, before starting to lose customers.

[KenWalking]

Agreed, the problem has been reported for over a year, and persists into the next years filing, shame.

[KenWalking]

Sadly still not resolved.  Just got the shock that I must file by mail, because I had 3520 checked.

[nollaf]

I have a question, I have paid turbo tax for both Federal and State taxes, it appears this isn't going to be fixed any time soon, so I'm looking at using Tax Act to file my federal by Efile and mailing the 3520 federal return.

My question is can I still file my State through Turbo Tax and just not use it for my federal? This is a silly question, but just making sure, if I put that I'm going to mail in TT, it isn't going to cause problems when I efile via Tax Act?

[DaveF1006]

No. You will need to file your federal tax return with TurboTax to file your state return.