TurboTax Business VALIDATION ERROR Code 54 so we cannot efile

[next1cruise]

I was able to successfully eFile this morning, 2/4/2026 by detaching, then re-attaching form 8453. This seems to solve the TurboTax Business VALIDATION ERROR Code 54.

[drumskibird]

FINALLY!  Removing and replacing Form 8453 allowed e-filing at last.  Still seems like TTax could have been more helpful with this instead of leaving us to muddle through this kind of software glitch on our own...  Thanks to the users who worked as a team to find the solution!

[pjaquette]

Many thanks to all the TurboTax Business users who with their detective work have figured out a work-around. I've detached the 8453-FE and reattached it and have been able to successfully e-File my 1041 and CA-541 returns. After a few minutes I got the email from Intuit that the returns have been accepted.

You'd think that the creators of the software could have figured this out and been able to tell their customers what to do, or better update the software so that it doesn't have this error.

[johnp317]

I WAS ABLE TO EFILE AFTER REATTACHING FORM 8453-FE!  In my case, even though nothing changed in my return, I decided to go through the entire process of printing, signing, scanning and then reattaching just to make sure and IT WORKED!!!

THANK YOU to the INTUIT CUSTOMERS who solved it.  

NOTE TO INTUIT: Even though the tech team did not figure out the problem and it was customers who eventually figured this out, thank you to @KristinaK who collected logs and brought them to the tech team for help.  The only advice on that would have been to post updates so people know Intuit is looking into it.

ADVICE TO INTUIT: You really need to point your AI to this community forum and have it report to you on threads where customers are struggling and asking for your help.  It could even report HIGH PRIORITY BUGS (which this is) so the tech team could be notified immediately.  The feedback loop is broken here and AI could help on that.  

[beberle]

I was also able to submit tonight.  It was an exercise in patience.  No updates or other changes were required.  State taxes were accepted in under an hour.  Hopefully Federal taxes will also go through smoothly.

[ed2012]

Thank you whoever found the solution: to remove the 8453-FE and reattach did the trick. 

The 1041 finally was able to efile.  I have received both the Transmission Successful and the Federal Business Filing Accepted emails.

[Sefto]

I have the same issue and have done the recommended solutions of reinstallation, no firewall, etc. Is there a fix available now?

[user17700860538]

If you haven't tried already, remove your 8453-FE attachment and then reattach.  This worked for me and several other users have reported it worked for them.  Copying below my post from 2 weeks ago.

THANK YOU fellow users!!!  Based on the comments/inquiries regarding Form 8453-FE potentially being the problem, I removed the Form 8453-FE and reattached (following the instructions for changing the form even though I reattached the same form with no changes).  I'm happy to report that the Trust return has been successfully transmitted and is awaiting IRS acceptance.  "No news is good news"....if you don't see another post from me it was also accepted.  THANKS AGAIN to my fellow users who looked for new solutions and didn't just keep repeating the same steps that were NOT working.

[CatinaT1]

This was resolved and we haven't had additional reports of this. If you've tried all the solutions here, you will have to contact customer service.

Here is a link to contact  Turbo Tax Customer Service.

[Sefto]

The removal and upload of form 8453 is not solving the problem when I tried. I've tried all other solutions recommended on this blog from uninstall and reinstall, to taking down Norton firewall, and manual "check for update."

Now, when I delete the form 8453-Corp, the form automatically comes back into the return without me being able to upload manually.

This is an absurd issue that INTUIT NEEDS TO ADDRESS. Ive used turbotax for decade+ and at this point I've lost faith in them as a scalable solution given poor customer service and terrible UX.

Please assist. Thanks!

[bcurrybb]

Bumping - Fed and DE, issue persists

Troubleshooting already completed as below:

restarted app

restart pc

uninstalled, reinstalled

uninstalled, restart, reinstalled

manually update per https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/update-products/manually-update-turbotax...

ran as admin

new, non protected folder for turbotax return file and attachments (c:\tax, exempt in all security items)

checked firewall (windows firewall off, network firewall has no logs)

followed community post (this one!)

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/re-turbotax-business-validation-error-code-54-so-...

unattach and reattach 8453-c > generate sign and attach new 8453-c

confirmed attachments in tools > attachments

jump to interview goes to right location

confirmed path is correct

view opens the pdf and it is proper

Error is:

failed_validation error code 54. The version of TurboTax you are using is no longer current. You must update your program before electronically filing the return. To update your program, go to the Online menu and select 'Check for Updates'. TurboTax will automatically download any updates available. After updating, you may file the return electronically.

Online > Check for Updates always returns an up to date message.

Please advise @CatinaT1 and crew 

TIA 🙂