Why do I keep getting the message "something went wrong" when I try to do the teacher educator expenses?

[CatinaT1]

Try closing TurboTax, clear your Cache and Cookies, and reopen TurboTax.  

[abgkmclem]

Unfortunately, that didn’t work. 

[JamesG1]

Do you meet the qualifications for the deduction?

Teachers may be eligible for the Educator Expense Deduction if they meet certain criteria. You have to:

• Work as a teacher, instructor, counselor, principal or classroom aide
• Work with students in kindergarten through grade 12
• Complete at least 900 hours of work during the school year
• Be employed by a school that provides elementary or secondary education as determined by state law

This TurboTax Help states:

individuals working at pre-schools, homeschooling their own children, or who are employed by a college or graduate school would not qualify for this deduction.

You may also try deleting the form and re-enter the information.  Select Tax Tools / Tools / Delete a form down the left side of the screen.

To enter Teacher or Educator Expenses in TurboTax Online, follow these steps.

• Down the left side of the screen, click Federal.
• Down the left side of the screen, click Deductions & Credits.
• Scroll down to Employment Expenses.  Click the down arrow to the right.
• To the right of Teacher (Educator) Expenses, click Start / Revisit.

[abgkmclem]

Yes I meet those qualifications. 

[LindaS5247]

In order to take the Educator Expense Deduction, teachers should begin by determining eligibility. Once you have verified that you meet the minimum hours and that you work in a qualifying school, look at your expenses over the last year that qualify for this deduction.

There are a few factors that influence how much you can deduct:

• You can’t deduct expenses reimbursed by your school, covered by a grant or another source.
• Expenses can only be deducted when they exceed tax-free withdrawals from your Coverdell Education Savings Account, distributions from state tuition programs that you don’t report as income; and interest on savings bonds that don’t need to be reported if you paid higher education expenses.
• For tax years prior to 2018, qualified expenses in excess of the Educator Expense limits may be deductible as itemized deductions instead.

For more detailed information on the Educator Expense Deduction, look to IRS publication 529.

Click here for additional information on the Educator Expense Deduction.