I'm a teacher & trying to take the educator deduction. Turbotax doesn't allow me to take the deduction in my name. When I put the deduction in my husband's name it works.

[brendarenee14]

I'm a teacher, but he's not. I don't understand why it won't let me to put the deduction under my name.

[xmasbaby0]

That's weird.  Do you have your return correctly set up as a joint return?   When you have been entering income have you been seeing spots with each name for income?

[brendarenee14]

Yes, it’s set to married filing jointly and it gives me the credit on the state, but not the federal.  Yes, both of W2’s are entered, one for each of us.

[xmasbaby0]

@brendarenee14 So when you try to enter the educator credit it will only give a spot for your spouse?  What?  

To call TurboTax customer support

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

Customer support is available from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific time daily

[brendarenee14]

No, there’s a place for both of us. If I enter the amount in my box and 0 in his it says I don’t qualify. When I enter the amount in his box and 0 in mine it says we qualify.

[xmasbaby0]

Do not enter a zero in his box.  Leave it blank instead.    The software does not like zeros.

[brendarenee14]

I’ll try that. If that doesn’t work, I’ll call that support number. Thank you!

[Bap8]

I’m having the same issue. It won’t deduct if I put the amounts in my spouse’s name (my spouse is the teacher). But it will allow the deduction if I put the expenses in my name. This doesn’t make sense. Both of us earn income. My spouse lists her occupation as a teacher. 

[TeresaM]

Qualified expenses are deductible only to the extent the amount of such expenses exceed the following amounts for the tax year, for the spouse who has the Educator Expenses. 

• The interest on series EE and I U.S. savings bonds that you exclude from income because you paid qualified higher education expenses,
• Any distribution from a qualified state tuition program that you exclude from income,
• Any tax-free withdrawals from your Coverdell education savings accounts,
• Any reimbursements you receive for expenses that aren't reported to you in box 1 of your Form W-2.
  
  Would any of these apply to your spouse, but not to you?
  
  For more information please click to see the IRS Tax Topic 458 Educator Expense Deduction.