W2 Medicaid Waiver rounding error

[admedlock]

When turbo tax automatically fills the amount in the medicaid waiver hardship section, it rounds the number up. Then it gives me an error that the amount cannot be higher than the actual amount earned.   It won't let me force the decimal and cents.   If it is okay for this to be rounded up, I shouldn't get an error.  If it is not okay  to be rounded up, I should be allowed to enter the exact amount.  Maddening!

[CatinaT1]

The IRS will not accept a return with cents included. Go ahead and round your number prior to entering to avoid an error. $.50 and higher rounds up. Everything else rounds down.

TurboTax can exempt income under Notice 2014-7 per the IRS instructions for Medicaid Waiver payments from IHHS. This Notice provides that certain payments received by an individual care provider under a state Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waiver (Medicaid waiver) program are difficulty of care payments and excludable as income. Additionally, you can choose to use this income to calculate Earned Income Credit. Regardless, the income will remain non-taxable.    

This tax-exempt income can be reported to you differently depending on your state and county. You might receive a W-2, 1099, and no form at all.  

See the instructions below for how to report this depending on how the income was reported to you. 

If you received a W-2 with $0 in Box 1: 

1. Sign in to TurboTax Online, click Continue your return, then pick up where I left off (if you are using TurboTax CD/ Download, then just open your return on your computer);    
2. Click on Federal Taxes, and then click on Wages & Income;    
3. Under Wages and Salaries, click Edit/Add next to Form W-2;     
4. Click on Add a W-2, and enter the information as reported on your W-2.    
5. After entering all your W-2s, you will see the screen, Let’s check for uncommon situations. Next to Nontaxable Medicaid waiver payments, check the box. 
6. You will enter the amount of Medicaid Waiver Payments into the box asking for the amount of difficulty of care payment you received from IHHS. This will be the same amount reported in Boxes 3 and 5 of your W-2. 
7. When you get to the Earned Income Credit section under the  Deductions and Credits portion of your return, you will be asked if you want to add your Medicaid waiver payment to your income for this credit. You can try it both ways, including it and excluding it from the calculation for the credit and see which way benefits you most. 

If you received a 1099 or no form: 

1. Sign in to TurboTax Online, click Continue your return, then pick up where I left off (if you are using TurboTax CD/ Download, then just open your return on your computer);    
2. Click on Federal Taxes, and then click on Wages & Income;    
3. Scroll down to Less Common Income;      
4. Click on Start next to Miscellaneous Income, 1099-A, 1099-C. 
5. Click on Start next to, Other income not already reported on a Form W-2 or Form 1099;     
6. Answer Yes to Did you receive any other wages?;     
7. Leave blank the box for Wages earned as a household employee and click continue; 
8. Leave blank the box for Sick or disability pay and click continue;      
9. Enter the amount of Medicaid waiver payments on Certain nontaxable Medicaid waiver payments not reported on Form W-2, and click Continue. 
10. When you get to the Earned Income Credit section under the  Deductions and Credits portion of your return, you will be asked if you want to add your Medicaid waiver payment to your income for this credit. You can try it both ways, including it and excluding it from the calculation for the credit and see which way benefits you most. 

 
For more information, refer to IRS Notice 2014–7, 20144 I.R.B. 445 and the IRS FAQs.