Should my Schedule SE have an amount (far more than my SE income) on Farm Optional Method line 14? I am not a farmer. I have no farm income. I'm not sure why TT did this

[Sakehe]

When I went to submit my tax return I saw that this Farm Optional Method was used and am hesitant to submit my taxes as I'm concerned TurboTax made a mistake.

[DawnC]

It is not a mistake.  By default, line 14 will print $6,920 if you did or did not use an optional method.   

If you want to make adjustments or see adjustment you made, search for sch se (must have the space) to be taken to the Self-Employment (SE) tax adjustment screen.   If you click on Make Adjustments, you'll see the options to adjust your SE tax.  Click Continue.   The next screen asks you if you want to use the NonFarm Optional method.  

What is the SE (self-employment) Tax?

[MrBrettHooper]

@DawnC - I followed your instructions and it is not changing anything for me. I even finished my amendment to see if the adjustments would take, but no. I'm so discouraged. What do I need to do to fix this?

[DawnC]

Are you using the desktop program or TurboTax Online?  Can you provide some details on what you are trying to do? @MrBrettHooper 

Search for sch se (must have the space) and use the Jump to sch se link to be taken to the Self-Employment (SE) tax adjustment screen.   If you click on Make Adjustments, you'll see the options to adjust your SE tax.  Click Continue.   The next screen asks you if you want to use the NonFarm Optional method.     Another way to get to the screen is to click:

[MrBrettHooper]

@DawnC - I'm using the online option. I'm trying to understand why line 14 is filled in when I do not own a farm, and, if it somehow auto-populated because I did something incorrectly. Your screenshots do not look like what I see when I search "Sch se." There is no option to readjust for me that I can see.

[DawnC]

Is there anything on Line 15-17?   If not, you are not using either optional method.   Line 14 will auto fill with $6,920, on every Schedule SE.  @MrBrettHooper 

[MrBrettHooper]

@DawnC - There is nothing on lines 15 or 17. Why does it auto-populate that number? And, it does this for everyone who has lines 15 and 17 blank??

I noticed in retrospect, my 2023 return also had that line filled in (I missed it somehow!), but the number is not 6,920. It's 6,560. Are you able to help this make sense to me?

[VolvoGirl]

Just ignore line 14.  It is on all Schedule SE.    It is the preprinted default value. See it is on the blank IRS SE form

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040sse.pdf 

[DawnC]

That is the maximum amount for tax year 2024 (using the optional methods).   Last year, the max was 6,560.  It prints there by default, but you will see your calculation on Line 12.    Your schedule SE is good to go!  @MrBrettHooper