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.