Turbo Tax calculated our ages incorrectly.

[kayla-pruett66]

I am using Expert Assist Premium online.

I was going through the section on estimated taxes for 2026. (I'm a 1099, I underpaid last year, and want to make sure I don't underpay this year.)

As part of the question to calculate my estsimate tax payments, TT asked "[HUSBAND] was 71 years old on January 1, 2026. 

No. He was not. His birthdate is November 1955, so he turned 70 in November, not 71. 

It did the same thing to me. [WIFE] was 60 years old on January 1, 2026.

NO. My birthdate is December 1966, so I turned 59 in December, not 60.

Our birthdates are entered correctly in the personal information section - this is probably the 8th year in a row I've used TT, and the personal information is carried over from year to year and has always been correct. I confirmed by looking at it again after seeing the calcuation errors.

Both ages were editable in the age box, so they are correct now...but what the HECK. How can I trust Turbo Tax with all the complicated calculations in my return if it can't get our ages right?? I am having serious thoughts about scrapping my returns and starting over with a different company. 

[VolvoGirl]

I don't know why it says on Jan 1, 2026.  Sure it doesn't say Jan 2027?   To prepare estimates for 2026 it would want to know your age in 2026 (by Jan 1, 2027)  You do turn a  year older in 2026.  

[kayla-pruett66]

I just went back and looked at it again. This is under Federal>Other Tax Situations>Form W-4 and estimated taxes.

It says "Enter [Husband's] 2026 age" and below "verify [husband] age as of January 1, 2026". 

I know that we turn a year older in 2026, but the program still calculated our ages incorrectly for January 1, 2026. 

[dmertz]

It makes no sense that TurboTax's text says January 1, 2026, because for the purpose of suggesting estimated tax payments for 2026 what matters is your age on December 31, 2026.  This is probably one of the many inappropriate wording changes that TurboTax has made as it is being migrated to a new implementation of the step-by-step mode user interface.  They seem to be changing wording just for the sake of changing the wording, without regard to the reason behind the original wording.

[RichInPitt]

I don't use this function, but just going to it, I see the same.  It asks me to verify my age as of January 1, 2026, and the number is one year high.

I just typed over it.

[VolvoGirl]

@dmertz   I think they need to change the wording to Jan 1, 2027.   For a lot of items the IRS considers if you are born on Jan 1 it counts in the prior year.   Like if you were born before January 2, 1961 you get the new extra 6,000 Senior Deduction for 65 and older even though you don’t turn 65 until 2026.   

[VolvoGirl]

Just posting this here so I can find it again in the future 

For 2025,  See IRS pub 501 page 2 table 1 asterisk….

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p501.pdf

It says……

If you were born before January 2, 1961, you’re considered to be 65 or older at the end of 2025.

[dmertz]

"I think they need to change the wording to Jan 1, 2027."

Ah, that makes sense.