TurboTax won't let me file my taxes and keeps telling me to "Check this entry: Federal Information Worksheet: Disaster Distributions" - What is this blocker for?

[hbroman11]

When I go to submit my taxes, it says I have one entry that needs to be reviewed and it keeps taking me to a screen that says "Check This Entry" and the disaster distribution section is checked on it. Is this for COVID? If so, how do I get rid of this? Here is what it says: FEDERAL INFORMATION WORKSHEET: DISASTER DISTRIBUTIONS - YOU CAN'T FILE JUST YET DUE TO DISASTER TAX RELIEF LAWS PASSED BY CONGRESS. THIS MAY MEAN A BETTER TAX OUTCOME FOR TAXPAYERS LIKE YOU WHO TOOK OUT QUALIFIED DISASTER DISTRIBUTIONS (note: I did not take out any distributions between 2018 and 2020! Only distributions were from the government which I noted already on the return!) BETWEEN 2018 AND 2020. WE CAN KEEP WORKING ON YOUR TAX RETURN AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN WE CAN HELP YOU FINISH UP YOUR TAXES.

[Kat · Accepted solution]

Today TurboTax released an article related to this issue.  Developers are working on a quick resolution.  Please see the article I'm linking below for the opportunity to sign up for email notification when the issue has been resolved.  So sorry for the inconvenience.

Why is form 8915A-T preventing me from e-filing? 

[hbroman11]

Thank you Kat! It doesn't say the specific form name it is related to on the error message. It seemed to be indicating the related form was for an IRA Rollover form (1099-R) as a "disaster distribution", but I don't have that form either. I did move my IRA's to a different institution last year, but the transaction was "in-kind" and there was no distribution taken. I've subscribed to the updates and hopefully this will fix the issue once TurboTax resolves it. 

[hbroman11]

I was able to go into "Tools" and then deleted forms 8915 entirely and then it let me uncheck the box about being impacted by a natural disaster. It then let me proceed to file my taxes - BUT - it popped up with the same error message again when I went to e-file them. 

This is very frustrating!

[Kat]

@hbroman11 I know this is so irritating!  Glad you signed up for notification.  Hopefully the resolution will come quickly.

EDITED TO ADD:  Did you receive a 1099-R to report your rollover?  It would have had a Code G indicating it was a roller and not a distribution.

[Deftoones]

Hello,

I am currently going through the same issue. Is there a fix yet?

[JamesG1]

Did you take a disaster distribution from your pension funds between 2018 and 2020? A disaster distribution allowed you to spread the distribution over three 1040 tax returns.

If so, IRS Form 8915 will be needed to complete your tax return but that form is not yet available.  See this TurboTax Help.

If you did not take a disaster distribution from your pension funds between 2018 and 2020, follow these steps. 

• Go to Federal / Wages & Income.
• Scroll down to Wrap up income.
• Continue.
• At the screen Did you take a disaster distribution at any time between 2018 and 2020? answer No.

Now watch the headings under Federal closely. 

• When you are in Deductions & Credits. 
• Scroll down and click on Wrap up tax breaks.
• Then you are in Other Tax Situations.
• Scroll down and click on Let's keep going.
• Continue through to Federal Review.

[Claire919]

I’m still having this issue, has it been resolved for anyone else?

[TeresaM]

Thank you for sharing this information. Our team is working to resolve a situation where there is a message in Review for Form 8915 Qualified Disaster Retirement Plan.  We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused and are working to correct this.

Please see this TurboTax Help article which has a link to sign up for updates. Notifications Form 8915

[hbroman11]

I did *not* receive a 1099-R regarding the rollover. Does that need to be reported even though no distributions were taken? 

[AnnetteB6]

There should be a page in the step-by-step section of your return where you can answer the question about disaster distributions with 'No'.  If you entered any Form 1099-R in your return you will have already seen that question one time, but there is another one out there for users who did not enter any Form 1099-R information.

Please try the following steps if you are using TurboTax Online to see if the error message will clear:

• Go to Federal on the left side of the screen
• Go to Wages & Income at the top of the screen
• Scroll to the bottom of the section without making any changes and click Wrap Up Income
• Continue moving forward until you see a question about whether you took a disaster distribution in 2020 and select 'No'
• Run the Federal Review again to see if the error has cleared

Please try the following steps if you are using a CD/downloaded version of TurboTax:

• Go to Wages & Income at the top of the screen (or Personal > Personal Income)
• Click I'll choose what I work on
• Scroll to the bottom of the section without making any changes and click Done with Income
• Continue moving forward until you see a question about whether you took a disaster distribution in 2020 and select 'No'
• Run the Federal Review again to see if the error has cleared

If you have tried these steps and you did not see a question about the disaster distributions in 2020, then repeat the steps for the Deductions & Credits section of your return until the question is located.  

@hbroman11

@Claire919

@Deftoones

[makedatiye89]

This is still an error on my taxes and did not work. I cannot file federal and I do not have the wages and income tab

[JamesG1]

What version of TurboTax are you using?

Everyone is being asked the question about a disaster distribution.

If you entered any Form 1099-R in your return, you have already seen that question.  There is another question for users who did not enter any For 1099-R information.

The question in the step-by-step section of your return is located after you enter income and before you enter deductions and credits.  In your tax return, that question may not have been answered or the question has been answered Yes.

AnnetteB6's instructions are to help you find that question and answer No.

Perhaps you did you take a disaster distribution from your pension funds between 2018 and 2020?  A disaster distribution allowed you to spread the distribution over three 1040 tax returns.

If so, IRS Form 8915 will be needed to complete your tax return but that form is not yet available.  See this TurboTax Help.

[Lysarian]

I'm also still unable to file my taxes.  Is there any update on this?

[DoninGA]

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@Lysarian wrote:

I'm also still unable to file my taxes.  Is there any update on this?

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Try this procedure so that you can file -

Did you take a disaster distribution from your pension funds between 2018 and 2020? A disaster distribution allowed you to spread the distribution over three 1040 tax returns.

If so, IRS Form 8915 will be needed to complete your tax return but that form is not yet available.  See this TurboTax Help.

If you did not take a disaster distribution from your pension funds between 2018 and 2020, there may be a question that needs to be reviewed.  Follow these steps.  

• Go to Federal / Wages & Income.
• Scroll down to Wrap up income.
• Continue.
• At the screen Did you take a disaster distribution at any time between 2018 and 2020? answer No. 

Now watch the headings under Federal closely.  

• When you are in Deductions & Credits. 
• Scroll down and click on Wrap up tax breaks.
• Then you are in Other Tax Situations.
• Scroll down and click on Let's keep going.
• Continue through to Federal Review.