I am unable to enter expenses for medical professionals. Turbo Tax freezes up and will not allow me to enter those expenses. What do I do?

[xmasbaby0]

You could try a different browser, or just enter the medical professional expenses somewhere else in the medical expense section it it lets you.

When you enter medical expenses in TurboTax, it asks you a whole lot of questions to help you include everything that can be entered.  Really what matters in the end is the total of all of it; that is what will go on your tax form, so don't get too frazzled trying to make sure everything is in the "right" category as long as you enter it all, and do not enter anything twice.

MEDICAL EXPENSES

The medical expense deduction has to meet a rather large threshold before it can affect your return. The amount of medical (including dental, vision, etc.)  expenses that will count toward itemization is the amount that is OVER 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. You should only enter the amount that you paid in 2018—do not include any amounts that were covered by insurance or that are still outstanding. Of course, your medical expenses plus your other itemized deductions still have to exceed your standard deduction before you will see a difference in your tax due or refund.

To enter your medical expenses go to Federal>Deductions and Credits>Medical>Medical Expenses

2018 Standard Deductions:

Single   $12,000  (+ $1600 65 or older)

Married Filing Separately    $12,000  (+ $1300 65 or older)

Married Filing Jointly  $24,000  (+ $1300 each spouse 65 or older)

Head of Household  $18,000  (+ $1600 65 or older)

[lmcameron57]

Yes, I had to enter them somewhere else.  Not happy with Turbo Tax because of this.  I would have rather entered it where it belongs as it's historical data - Turbo Tax gives that historical data so you can compare things from the previous year.

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[xmasbaby0]

To call TurboTax customer support

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

They are available from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time 7 days per week through October 25, 2019.

[JimWK]

Answers in the "help" area are for 2018 questions - as I had a year ago and face the same problem for 2019 taxes.  This cannot be so difficult to fix after a year of conversation.  I thought TT had THE expertise in tax programs.  Having the same problem after a year changes that thought

[DoninGA]

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@JimWK wrote:

Answers in the "help" area are for 2018 questions - as I had a year ago and face the same problem for 2019 taxes.  This cannot be so difficult to fix after a year of conversation.  I thought TT had THE expertise in tax programs.  Having the same problem after a year changes that thought

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Try this -

Close the 2019 program

On the TurboTax icon, right click

Click on Properties

Click on the Compatibility tab

Check the box - Run this program as an administrator

Click on Apply and OK

Start the TurboTax program 

See if the problem is corrected

[lmcameron57]

Yes, you'd think in a year they would correct this but I am running into the same problem in 2019.  In addition, I have added expenses and overridden amounts and TT 2019 STILL won't update.  What is wrong, Intuit?  Can't you get things right?

[SteamTrain]

@lmcameron57 

Are you using "Online" or "Desktop" software....it is critical that you describe this with your question...as the proper answer is commonly different for the two systems...and no one has a chance to help you quickly if you don't provide that information.  Details on exactly what is happening as you attempt to enter a $$ value is also critical.

______________________________

Shortcutting to a possible solution to the problem...but ONLY if you are using the DESKTOP software:

______________________

IF you are attempting to enter a value into a Medical Expenses field during the interview, but the software doesn't seem to allow the entry.....Whenever you see that "$0"  in that field (an actual zero, and not just a simple "$" )......then a "Supporting Details" sheet is attached to that entry field, that transferred in from last year's file, but after the actual $$ entries from 2018 were stripped out.

Problem is that TTX reprogrammed that page such that the "Supporting Details" page doesn't pop up like it used to...so three ways to work around  it until they get it fixed (been reported).

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Here's a re-run of what might be happening...and how to fix it  (#4).

1)  In 2018 you added "Supporting Details" to each of those fields...probably to describe  when & how paid.

2)  The Supporting Details sheets (empty) transferred into your 2019 file.

3)  The Supporting Details are supposed to pop up as soon as you attempt to enter a value during the Interview...but it doesn't.  (Software Bug)

4) Workarounds  (new) : 

4a)  double-click in the field and the Supporting Details sheet pops up and you can either delete it (hit the big red "X"), and now make an entry...or you can use the SuppDetails worksheet to enter your $$....OR...

4b)   Put your cursor in the box, and then go to the top menu on the screen and click on <Edit....then <<Add Supporting Details from the drop-down menu.  IF the SuppDet box shows up you can either add your entry in there...or hit the Red "X" to delete the whole SupDet worksheet and then make your normal entry.....OR...

4c)  Put your cursor on the box....switch to Forms Mode...., and enter the payment  directly in the worksheet.   You can also delete the Supporting Details sheet entirely (look for the REMOVE "X" when it pops up)..once that is done, you can make entries using the interview again..

(been reported too, but might take weeks to fix...or never since we've heard nothing yet)

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and the are other places ..like Property Taxes, and Federal Quarterly Estimated Tax payments...where the same "$0" issue might occur too, but only if you used Supporting Details in a prior year.

[lmcameron57]

I am using Desktop TurboTax.  I HATE the on-line version.  Also, did you know that the desktop version of Quickbooks (their signature product) accounting software is VASTLY different and much more user-friendly and robust that their on-line version, which, BTW, stinks.

[tmnugent]

Intuit needs some good competition.  Isn't that why we give all these big corporations the tax breaks, reduced regulation, congressional sponsorship.  If there were a strong competitor I would buy it in a heartbeat.

[JimWK]

You are correct.  For the third consecutive year I have had the same problem with this field.  I have reported it each year but apparently no one from TT reads the complaints.

[ths11]

This is still a problem in Premier desktop 2022.  Thanks for the tip on clicking "Edit" and selecting "Add Supporting Details" which still works.