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Level 2
posted Jan 29, 2021 7:39:14 AM

Why does turbotax page *not* accept the value I enter in the "enter u.s. government interest" field of the 1099-DIV form?

The turbotax page accepted all of the other information I entered into the form.  I checked the "a portion of these dividends is U.S. Government interest" box, no problem.  Then, on the next page, after I enter a dollar value to indicate the "amount of dividends reported on this 1099-DIV" and hit "continue" button, the amount I entered does not register.

0 22 2746
22 Replies
Expert Alumni
Feb 2, 2021 8:40:21 AM

On the 1099-DIV, what boxes have entries? Were you required to click My form has info in other boxes? and make entries?

 

What state tax returns are you completing?

 

The Federal government taxes income you receive from its own bonds and your state may not.

 

What about dividends from U.S. government bonds?

 

The federal government taxes income you receive from its own bonds. Although your state doesn't tax income generated by U.S. government bonds, each state defines government bonds differently.

 

To find out if these dividends are taxable in your state, review your 1099-B along with the supplemental pages from your consolidated tax statement. If you can’t find the info, you might be able to get it from your brokerage or mutual fund company website.  See this example.

 

Once you have found the info in your documents, just follow the screens here and we’ll help you enter an adjustment for the nontaxable amount in your state. When you get to your state taxes, we'll subtract the adjustment from the income reported to your state.

Level 2
Feb 2, 2021 9:53:57 AM

Thank you for the reply.  I very much appreciate the insight and the validation.

 

I am convinced there is a software glitch in one of the worksheets in turbotax online, but have been unsuccessful in finding technical help.  This is the first time in 20 years I am having trouble getting turbotax online to put the correct figure on the correct line of a federal or state tax form. 

 

I understand the tax situation both for federal and state purposes.  I would be comfortable filling out the tax return forms on my own but want the convenience of e-filing that turbotax provides.  I have tested the problem using different state addresses, yet the technical problem persists.  (I am a full year resident of one state, but as a test, I simulated the problem in at least one other state return that I then deleted.)

 

I am not required to click or make entries in any of the "My form has info in other boxes."  Rather, it is on the next turbotax page that the trouble begins.  At that page, I check the "A portion of these dividends is U. S. Government interest" box.  After I check that box and click "Continue" turbo tax takes me to the next page that says "Enter the amount of dividends reported on this 1099-DIV that represents interest from U.S. Government obligations."  So far, this is all extremely familiar as I have done this a gazillion times before without any surprises or trouble.

 

After I enter the correct amount in the field and click "Continue", turbotax brings me back to the "Review your 1099-DIV info" page (as expected).  However, once I return to the "Review your 1099-DIV info" page, I find that the figure I just entered on the previous page is gone.  It's left wallowing somewhere in the ether not to be found on any internal turbotax worksheet.  [Poof.]

Level 15
Feb 2, 2021 10:11:24 AM

@imstumped 

 

Give us the actual $$ values in boxes 1a, 1b and 2a.......and then the $$ amount you entered from US Govt securities....and we'll test it.   (though box 2a isn't likely to be necessary)

________________

.......or, you could try deleting that 1099-DIV entirely, and re-entering the data manually on a brand new 1099-DIV.   (i.e......Don't import the form form a financial provider, and do not re-use last year's transferred-over 1099-DIV form) 

 

 

Level 2
Feb 2, 2021 10:35:33 AM

Thank you for the troubleshooting suggestions.  I have tried everything you have suggested, to no avail.  [I have been trying everything I can think of over the past 3-4 weeks.]

 

Here is a practice case (home address = PA):

Box 1a = $285

Box 1b = $0

Box 2a = $0

U.S. Government interest = $103

 

Thanks again.

 

PS:  I also have tried every permutation of entering $0 and/or leaving the boxes blank (and/or using fake values greater than $0 as a test).

Level 15
Feb 2, 2021 11:10:05 AM

@imstumped  @JamesG1 

 

Yep, that's a software bug in the "Online" software.  I thought for a moment that it might be something related to PA software, even though it is entered in the Federal section...but I get the error with NC software attached to my test file account too.   Also tried with boxes 1b and 2a either blank or with 0.00...no effect, also tried it with box 1a = $285m and  1b as $150  (in case the software was was looking at the wrong box) 

 

No problems with my desktop software though

___________________________________

Best bet is to officially report it to Customer Support...let them confirm it and writ up a correction ticket.

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number/00/25632

 

_________________________________________

@DoninGA 

 

IS this something you can throw at the moderators for correction.  Online software only.

 

Also two others with the issue (and me), but they never followed up with details to revisit the situation.  Not many appear to have encountered it yet...but perhaps many folks don't bother breaking out that particular Govt Interest amount. ..... I checked for an FAQ in case it was being dealt with already, but didn't see one:
________________________

Others:

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/i-am-trying-to-enter-the-portion-of-government-interest-from-a-1099-div-the-system-refuses-to-save/01/1839725

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/the-us-govt-interest-field-on-form-1099-div-is-not-calculating-when-entered-it-still-shows-the-field/01/1838572

 

 

 

 

Level 2
Feb 2, 2021 5:07:09 PM

This a continuing issue I have been sending messages to Turbotax about.

My situation is exactly like the one "imstumped" described below this msg. The only difference...I live and file in Minnesota. I have always been able to enter right through this section without a glitch. I really do not want to give up this subtraction on my state return and that is what happens if I enter 0 on the page that asks for a portion of this income is from U.S. government. Otherwise, I get "needs review" in red letters.

Why does Turbotax not contact me or anyone else, or just correct the issue?

Jim 

Level 15
Feb 2, 2021 5:16:40 PM

@pegandjim4546 

 

This BUG, is just being discovered since a TON of 1099-DIV forms have been issued over this weekend....so a bunch of folks discover it all at once.

 

You don't have to give it up...just wait a couple weeks for it to get fixed...the software folks have to investigate it and figure out what to do to repair it.....it may not be a simple switch on/off type of setting  (or use the far superior Desktop software)

Level 2
Feb 2, 2021 5:55:51 PM

Thank you for pointing me in the correct direction of technical support.  Will give the programmers a couple of weeks to catch up.  If that doesn’t work, will probably end up abandoning the product and filing directly on the state’s DOR website.

Level 1
Feb 3, 2021 7:11:15 PM

This is a very simple fix.  On the page where you are entering the 1099-DIV Box 1a, 1b, and 2a - simply click the "My form has info in other boxes" checkbox.  Click continue.  On the next screen click "A portion of these dividends is U.S. Government interest."  Click continue.  On the next screen enter the Government interest amount.  Simply checking the "My form has info in other boxes" the error will be resolved.

Level 2
Feb 4, 2021 9:34:06 AM

Brilliant!  To my intuition, this is a strange workaround.  Yet, sure enough, voila.  Many thanks.

Level 2
Feb 4, 2021 11:42:35 AM

Hi jonesy4life9,

I can not thank you enough for this work around!

One small step that is new this year was causing all my headaches. Do not know why Turbotax changed this,  but your advice did the trick for me.

Best regards,

Jim J.

Returning Member
Feb 9, 2021 1:21:32 PM

This fix is brilliant.  I just spent 30 minutes trying to figure out other ways around this, as well as contacted AA.  Thank you so much!

New Member
Feb 14, 2021 7:29:01 PM

I have the same issue. It is definitely a software glitch. 

New Member
Feb 14, 2021 7:31:37 PM

It isn’t resolved. Same issue still exists. 

Level 15
Feb 15, 2021 4:39:57 AM

@Reierson4 

 

Use the workaround that Jonesy4life posted:

 

"  On the page where you are entering the 1099-DIV Box 1a, 1b, and 2a - simply click the "My form has info in other boxes" checkbox.  Click continue.  On the next screen click "A portion of these dividends is U.S. Government interest."  Click continue.  On the next screen enter the Government interest amount.  Simply checking the "My form has info in other boxes" the error will be resolved."   

 

That doesn't help the folks that never see the workaround posted.....so the Software programmers still need to find a way to fix it.  But that will work for you.

Level 2
Feb 15, 2021 12:06:17 PM

Thank you so much!! I was stumped on this for days but  this workaround fixed it for me.

Level 2
Mar 28, 2023 4:09:19 PM

I just have this problem this week 3/28/2023.  I entered $2361 as interest from government obligations was accepted by turbo tax.  But when doing CA state tax, TurboTax does not subtract xxx from my California (540).  I tried all the suggestions from the forum but could not get it fixed.  Any suggestions.

Should I just file the state tax and send in an amendment later.

Expert Alumni
Mar 29, 2023 12:33:41 PM

Please tell us where you entered the "interest from government obligations ". Was it on the 1099-INT screen in Box 3?

 

I entered an amount on a test return in Box 3, and it appeared on the CA 540 (Resident) in Part 1, line 2, which then carried to the 540 line 14 to be subtracted from CA state income.

 

Is it perhaps that you are not filing as a resident of CA?

Level 2
Mar 29, 2023 1:18:23 PM

My problem is that I need to report this amount as 1099-DIVIDENT .  Not 1099-Interest.

The amount that needed to report is DIVIDENT (from Vanguard US inflation protected security fund). I entered the amount in box 1,  then click 'a portion of the interest is US gorvernment', then enter the amount in box 1 in the next screen as US gorvernment interested.

I test by reporting this amount as US interest in box 3 of form 1099-INT.  I worked.  Turbotax upload this amount to tax form CA(540) in the subtraction.  This resulted in more than $200 increase in my CA tax refund.  However, I worry that if I reported the amount in form 1099-INT,  the total dividends in my tax report would be less than the amount reported to IRS; this may get me in trouble.

Level 15
Mar 29, 2023 2:03:52 PM

@Bsch4477 

 

Any chance you could check this out on your CA software?

 

When some, or all of the $$ in box 1a of a 1099-DIV form get entered on the follow up page as being from US Govt bond interest, does it get properly removed from CA income?

Level 15
Mar 29, 2023 5:27:49 PM

In my Home and Business program I entered $1,000 in ordinary and qualified dividends. The next screen asked if any amount was from US obligations. I clicked yes and entered $1,000. California Sch CA reflects the subtraction of the $1,000 from California income on line 3. 

 

Level 2
Mar 30, 2023 6:34:40 PM

Talked to customer support for 2 hour, they finally suggested to clear and redo the tax.  Luckily turbotax will not allow me to do it because I already paid the fee.  Finally, solved problem by:

edit state tax

edit CA adjustments

enter a dividend line for CA Subtraction:  Vanguard INF PRO SEC  $XXX 

The $xxx was added to my CA (540) subtraction collumn.