Turbotax does not check box on 1040sr for living more than 50% in US

[Glen16]

Turbotax does not check box on 1040 to show taxpayer lives in US more than 50% of time.

[pk]

@Glen16 , I am not sure I understand  the need for this check.  Please could you tell me more  about the situation and at least:

(a) Are you US person ( citizen/GreenCard/ Resident for Tax Purposes )?

(b) Is your tax-home US or abroad ?  Or are you saying   that you live in the US and abroad with approx. 50% in each place?  Which "other" country ?

(c)  Where is your income sourced ?  US  and/or abroad ?

(d) Do you also file a return in the other country ?  Do you take FTC and if so in which country -- US or the other country ?

I will circle back once I hear from you --yes ?

[Glen16]

Yes, always a US citizen.  Always lived in US.  All our income is US based.  Not sure why IRS is asking this question.  But IRS does (form 1040) and provides a box on the form to be checked indicating taxpayer lived at least 50% of the year in US.  However turbotax program does not check the box when 1040 form is printed.  There also is no question in the turbotax application (screens) that deals with this question.  Not sure if IRS would reject the return if this was left blank but would prefer not to find out.  Could, of course, print tax forms, check the box myself, and mail return.  However, I want to file electronically for several reasons and that is why I pay the turbofax fee.  Perhaps made a mistake in that I paid turbotax upfront.

[pk]

@Glen16 , I see this  new box starting 2025.  Don't really understand the logic, need, tax-law basis  that needs this new assertion. Nor do I know what happens if one leaves this  box blank -- perhaps TurboTax cheks will flag this mas incomplete and not allow e-file.

If this is a way to flag NRA vs US person, then this is totally useless as a US person ( citizen/GreenCard )  does not need to be present  for >= 183 days in the US to file a form 1040.  Perhaps the powers be know something or walking towards something.  

Don't know what to suggest, except answer with facts.

pk

[JohnB5677]

The check box on the 1040 for your home being in the United States is specifically for the Earned Income Credit.

• The box can only be checked if you qualify for the Earned Income Credit.
• There are significant age, income and possibly child requirements.
• If the box is not checked, it will not affect your tax return.

See IRS guidance on Earned Income Tax Credit (EIT

[didaviscpa]

I  do not agree with Expert JohnB5677. According to IRS 1040 Instructions: " If your main home (and spouse if filing a joint return) was in the U.S. for over half of 2025, check the box on the front of Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Providing this information will help the IRS determine your eligibility for certain tax benefits,including the earned income credit. It does NOT say and I quote from his comment:

• The box can only be checked if you qualify for the Earned Income Credit.

3. I use Turbotax Deluxe Download on my PC.  At the very top where it shows: file, edit, view,tools, online, help - click VIEW. Now step by step, forms, zoom, step by step topic appears. Click on Forms and the Forms in My Return appears and then as the solution states:

1. Go to forms view - Forms in My Return

2. Go to Info Wks

3. Go to Part IV - Earned Income Credit Information

4. Second item asks the question "was in US for more than half of 2025"- answer Yes

5. It will now be checked on your 1040/1040SR

[borko2]

I've been having the same issue but using Do It Yourself-Premium and it seems my menu options are different. I have yet to figure out how to get this box checked. 

[DoninGA]

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@borko2 wrote:

I've been having the same issue but using Do It Yourself-Premium and it seems my menu options are different. I have yet to figure out how to get this box checked. 

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There is no need to check that box as it is only used if you will be receiving the Earned Income Tax Credit.

[VolvoGirl]

@borko2   Did you read the previous answers?   You don’t need to check that box unless you are getting the EIC.   You can file without it.   Don’t worry about it.   I didn’t check it and I filed and got my refund.   

[borko2]

I did read the above answers, thank you, Volvo. It just seems odd that Turbo Tax wouldn't have it checked regardless and that there's a way to fix in Deluxe but not Premium. 

[VolvoGirl]

The person using Deluxe is using the Desktop installed program not the Online version.   The Desktop programs have access to the actual forms so you can override it and check the box manually.  That is one of the big differences between Online and Desktop.  

[stillwondering]

And that's one of the reasons I'm getting the Desktop version of Turbotax next year.  The Desktop version, unlike the Download version, allows the user to easily switch back and forth between the question and answer inputs and the actual IRS forms and to make changes in the forms themselves.  So, if I had the Desktop version, I could just switch to the first page of the 1040 and check the little box indicating that our main home was in the U.S. for more than half of 2025.  I can't do that with this Download version, so I'm just going to wing it and leave it blank.  We're not claiming EIC.  

[JohnB5677]

This is a known issue. 

• It's planned to be resolved in early March 2026.
• If in the Desktop version of TurboTax, be sure to install all updates.