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Returning Member
posted Feb 23, 2025 7:25:19 PM

software clitch

Form Sch SE is not picking up the W-2 wages and reporting it.  I can enter an override, but appears i will not be able to file electronically.  Do i need to report his error to the IRS

0 5 1416
5 Replies
Level 15
Feb 23, 2025 7:56:36 PM

Are you a church employee? W-2 wages are only entered on Schedule SE line 5a for church employees (as defined in the IRS Instructions for Schedule SE). If you are a church employee, after you entered your W-2 did you check the "Religious employment" box on the screen that asks about uncommon situations, and answer the follow-up questions?

 

Returning Member
Feb 24, 2025 1:29:53 PM

Thanks for that is NOT the issue.  I have to enter an override in that slot.  I don't recall having to do that in previous years. 

Expert Alumni
Feb 24, 2025 2:44:19 PM

Can you tell us a bit more about why you need to pay SE tax on a W-2?  We have different steps for clergy, statutory employees, and foreign government and international organization members who are subject to this tax.  

Returning Member
Feb 24, 2025 6:15:03 PM

Yes, because ministers are classified as Self-employed for FICA purposes but employees for income tax purposes.  It is against IRS guidelines to withhold FICA tax on a minister who is working in a religious organization.  Two years i did not have to override the entry because Turbotax picked it up.  However this year was not the case. 

Expert Alumni
Feb 26, 2025 8:16:42 AM

In TurboTax Desktop, after testing a scenario with a W-2 for a minister and entering the housing allowance when asked, the correct social security tax was calculated for both the housing and the wages. The steps taken are as follows:

  1. Enter W-2 with no federal, social security or medicare tax. Wages in box 1 ($5,000 in my example) and housing in box 14, selecting the Category of Other (not classified).
  2. Continue to the screen 'Let's check for uncommon situations', selected Religious employment > Continue > Select 'Clergy' on 'Let's dig into your religious employment.
  3. Continue to enter Housing allowance and Qualifying expenses ($10,000 each in my example) > Continue
  4. Select 'Pay self employment tax on my wages and housing allowance' > Continue
  5. Complete the rest of your income, credits and deductions
  6. Switch to Forms to view your Sch SE (T/S depending on who is the minister) to review your self employment tax.
  7. See images below.

@culbrethcw