Why sign in to the Community?

  • Submit a question
  • Check your notifications
Sign in to the Community or Sign in to TurboTax and start working on your taxes
Level 2
posted Jan 30, 2021 9:24:50 AM

Sale includes a disallowed wash sale loss (code W). Amount (leave blank if all) shows 0 the amount is .15 but doesn't work. No value works, What should I do?

I've tried just entering a 1 it takes it but at the end it needs to be reviewed again and the same transactions appear with the 0.

6 64 12939
1 Best answer
Expert Alumni
Feb 14, 2021 6:03:50 AM

The error messaging you are seeing with regard to the wash sale entries is a result of automatic rounding of the number imported from your broker or typed in by you.  If the wash sale adjustment is $0.49 or less, then it is automatically rounded to zero.  This type of rounding is allowed by the IRS.  Unfortunately, zero is not a valid value for this field -- thus the error message.

 

To resolve the issue, you can edit each individual transaction (although not from the screen in the review process) and delete the amount entered in the wash sale adjustment if it is $0.49 or less.  This will clear the error message.  

 

To do this, you will need to revisit the input section for the Form 1099-B transactions.  Use the following steps:

  • On the top row of the TurboTax online screen, click on Search (or for CD/downloaded TurboTax locate the search box in the upper right corner)
  • This opens a box where you can type in “1099-B” and click the magnifying glass (or for CD/downloaded TurboTax, click Find)
  • The search results will give you an option to “Jump to 1099-B
  • Click on the blue “Jump to 1099-B” link
  • Click Edit beside the institution name
  • Click Edit beside each transaction that contains a wash sale adjustment amount of $0.49 or less
  • Delete the wash sale adjustment amount and click Done

 

If you have too many transactions that would require editing, you can consider deleting your imported information and entering a summary of the different categories of transactions reported on your Form 1099-B (short-term covered, short-term not covered, long-term covered, long-term not covered).  This would require you to mail a copy (not the original) of your Form 1099-B from your brokerage to the IRS within three days of filing your return.  The Form 1099-B would be attached to Form 8453, which will print with your return.  

 

@gdp91

@saapost1

24 Replies
Level 2
Feb 2, 2021 10:42:32 AM

I'm at a loss also.

Expert Alumni
Feb 3, 2021 5:35:57 PM

If you have a loss from a wash sale, you cannot deduct it on your return. Additionally, a gain on a wash sale is taxable.

Form 8949 and Schedule D will be generated based on the entries.

 

The wash-sale rule is an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulation that prevents a taxpayer from taking a tax deduction for a security sold in a wash sale. The rule defines a wash sale as one that occurs when an individual sells or trades a security at a loss and, within 30 days before or after this sale, buys a "substantially identical" stock or security, or acquires a contract or option to do so. A wash sale also results if an individual sells a security, and the individual's spouse or a company controlled by the individual buys a substantially equivalent security

New Member
Feb 4, 2021 10:39:55 PM

my disallowed wash sale is 0.15 (so 15 cents). It does not allow me to enter it, put a zero, or put one. It just resets the value to zero and goes into a loop saying i need to fix it. Fix your software!!!!

Level 2
Feb 5, 2021 4:46:49 AM

Don't need a cut and paste message.

The data in that was imported is correct from TD Ameritrade.

The review process is hanging up on it for some reason. 

Every line it flags to review is something below a dollar  like .15 

The review is hanging up the process.

 

Level 2
Feb 5, 2021 6:19:59 AM

I was able to get around what seemed like a rounding error by Turbotax, I eliminated the worksheets related to this and had entered the data when it asked me to.  No more zero loop.  Not sure if it is exactly accurate, but mine was .02. and it rounded it down to zero.

Level 15
Feb 5, 2021 6:52:23 AM

With people now able to buy fractional shares in small dollar amounts, there will be a lot more Wash Sales disallowed in the range of pennies, i.e. less than $1.00.

 

Best advice : take care to avoid wash sales.

Level 2
Feb 13, 2021 9:37:12 AM

Thanks, Cynthia. The problem isn't with the wash sale itself but the software consistently refusing to accept my entries and, like everyone else, getting looped back to the beginning. What is the fix?

Level 2
Feb 13, 2021 11:41:13 AM

I deleted the worksheet or sheets related to this and then entered it manually so it wouldn’t for me give me a zero. 

it worked and is filed. 

New Member
Feb 13, 2021 4:08:38 PM

I had the same issue. The software is the problem. The fix is verified from above. You need to delete the uploaded form and MANUALLY type in each sale item/group for washes. Hope this helps!

Level 2
Feb 13, 2021 4:21:04 PM

Even after deleting the forms and manually entering them, I still get the same issue. TurboTax isn't getting my business if this issue persists any longer.

New Member
Feb 13, 2021 4:26:03 PM

Having the same issue.  Seems like a software glitch.  Turbo Tax do you have any recommendations ??

Expert Alumni
Feb 14, 2021 6:03:50 AM

The error messaging you are seeing with regard to the wash sale entries is a result of automatic rounding of the number imported from your broker or typed in by you.  If the wash sale adjustment is $0.49 or less, then it is automatically rounded to zero.  This type of rounding is allowed by the IRS.  Unfortunately, zero is not a valid value for this field -- thus the error message.

 

To resolve the issue, you can edit each individual transaction (although not from the screen in the review process) and delete the amount entered in the wash sale adjustment if it is $0.49 or less.  This will clear the error message.  

 

To do this, you will need to revisit the input section for the Form 1099-B transactions.  Use the following steps:

  • On the top row of the TurboTax online screen, click on Search (or for CD/downloaded TurboTax locate the search box in the upper right corner)
  • This opens a box where you can type in “1099-B” and click the magnifying glass (or for CD/downloaded TurboTax, click Find)
  • The search results will give you an option to “Jump to 1099-B
  • Click on the blue “Jump to 1099-B” link
  • Click Edit beside the institution name
  • Click Edit beside each transaction that contains a wash sale adjustment amount of $0.49 or less
  • Delete the wash sale adjustment amount and click Done

 

If you have too many transactions that would require editing, you can consider deleting your imported information and entering a summary of the different categories of transactions reported on your Form 1099-B (short-term covered, short-term not covered, long-term covered, long-term not covered).  This would require you to mail a copy (not the original) of your Form 1099-B from your brokerage to the IRS within three days of filing your return.  The Form 1099-B would be attached to Form 8453, which will print with your return.  

 

@gdp91

@saapost1

Level 2
Feb 14, 2021 7:08:31 AM

@AnnetteB6 

 

Even after deleting the imported data and re-entering all the info myself, the system STILL insists that I need to enter something in. I've even deleted the 1099-B that contained the wash sales (in its entirety) to see if that would let me push forward but even then, I get stuck in the loop. It's not my system that's messed up, it's the TurboTax software. Someone needs to take a look at it

Level 2
Feb 14, 2021 12:20:26 PM

This is a BUG in the software, the work around posted above doesn't work and takes up so much time. INTUIT FIX YOUR TRASH SOFTWARE! THIS BUG IS CAUSING ME THE INABILITY TO FILE.

Returning Member
Feb 14, 2021 1:33:24 PM

Same issue.  I am about to scream.  Will not take any number I put in.  Does not allow you to put any cents  .xx

Level 2
Feb 14, 2021 2:48:16 PM

@AnnetteB6

 

I have one wash sale of 0.12.  So if I remove the 0.12, it clears the TurboTax error, but the entry will no longer be coded as having a wash sale. Won't this be an issue with the IRS?

Level 2
Feb 14, 2021 3:00:16 PM

I actually bought a hard copy of TurboTax Premier - Windows for $100!! Installed it and updated it, and the same issues occurs with wash sales. I can delete the "0." and it continues to the next page, however when i redo the smart scan at the end, all the same "0."'s reappear when reviewing the errors. I feel like TurboTax is responsible if i get audited. My taxes are already so dam complex, this is just something i shouldn't have to deal with.

Returning Member
Feb 16, 2021 2:44:50 AM

Unreal. The best advice seems to be to delete the auto upload and do it manually. The problem with that is I waited until it was available to auto upload because i didnt want to do it manually. I wanted it auto to make sure all info was correct. I could have filed manually a week and a half ago. Probably my last file with TurboTax.

Level 2
Feb 16, 2021 12:30:17 PM

I used @AnnetteB6 answer to solve the blank when zero work around. I read in another post that this issue has been reported to TurboTax.

I don't know how to mark this as Best Answer but it is the best answer.

Thanks Annette

New Member
Feb 16, 2021 12:53:43 PM

I'm running into this same issue. And Wash Sale Loss Disallowed is greater than $.49 so the work around suggested will not work for me. 

New Member
Feb 16, 2021 1:10:19 PM

Update: Annete's answer actually worked for me! I deleted the one entry I had less than $0.49 and it worked for me. I left the other entries above $0.49. 

Level 2
Feb 16, 2021 1:26:55 PM

That's great to hear and thanks for letting me know.  

I've began using TurboTax in 2005 and this is the earliest I've used their tax software.  I've found several glitches that needed work arounds which happens when software is just released.  No matter how much testing is done it's almost impossible for Intuit to find every bug prior to releasing the software.

Level 2
Feb 16, 2021 2:15:33 PM

So I had to build a list of the transactions with issues and go back to the work sheet and edit each of them.

for the wash sale.

Highlight the amount, hit delete key and then continue.

This fixed the issue, it took a long time but its done.

Please have it fixed for next years returns.

Level 2
Feb 17, 2021 9:38:26 AM

Annette,

 

You are the 4th expert who has suggested this fix, and I have to throw in my lot with the two other guys on this thread because I also tried the fix and it won't work.

 

Guys, I don't blame you for being upset.  I am told that Tax Act does not round up the individual entries, only the summaries, and this solves the problem.  Perhaps you should try them.

 

Best of luck,

 

prof.