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New Member
posted Jun 7, 2019 5:00:23 PM

Will form 8915B be available for efile for the 2019 tax season. This form was supposed to be released March 2018.

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1 Best answer
Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 5:00:26 PM

The IRS Form Form 8915B, Qualified 2017 Disaster Retirement Plan Distribution & Repayments for tax year 2018 is estimated to be available on 02/22/19

See this TurboTax support FAQ for IRS Forms availability - https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1908854-irs-forms-availability-table-for-turbotax-individual-perso...

24 Replies
Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 5:00:26 PM

The IRS Form Form 8915B, Qualified 2017 Disaster Retirement Plan Distribution & Repayments for tax year 2018 is estimated to be available on 02/22/19

See this TurboTax support FAQ for IRS Forms availability - https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1908854-irs-forms-availability-table-for-turbotax-individual-perso...

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:00:28 PM

Irs website says  Qualified 2017 Disaster Retirement Plan Distributions and Repayments  Revision: 2018  posted: 02/07/2019.  Looks like it is ready on the irs site.

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 5:00:29 PM

The TurboTax forms have to be approved by the IRS before they are available to be used for e-filing

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:00:31 PM

I thought it wasn’t available to e-file? So if it is on the IRS site and I want to file ASAP can I print what I have on turbo tax and mail it in Witt the form from the IRS?

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 5:00:32 PM

It is the IRS that is the hold up on finalizing the 8915B.  The IRS has not updated the instructions for the 8915B for tax year 2018.  Only the 2017 instructions are available on the IRS website.  That is why the estimated date for being available is 02/22/19

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:00:34 PM

On the turbo tax site it now says 02/28/19 and unsupported for efile. Does that mean that it will not be supported for efile ever on the Turbo Tax site?

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 5:00:35 PM

It will not be supported for e-filing with a 2018 tax return.  The form can only be included with a printed and mailed tax return.

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:00:37 PM

Turbotax is taking forever with this form what is the fastest way to mail in our tax return to the IRS? For instance should we overnight it certified mail? If so how?

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 5:00:39 PM

@joe.missy - it will never be able to be e-filed per the IRS.

And the IRS just published the 2018 *instructions* for the form on 2/14.  It takes 2 or more weeks to test with the IRS to insure that the new instructions are complied with.   The IRS must approve TurboTax's form before it can be released.

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:00:41 PM

Why does the form that turbotax uses have to be approved? Don't they use the same form that the IRS just released?

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:00:44 PM

This doesn’t make sense to me. If the IRS site has the form and instructions I need to file my taxes. How do I do that? Will turbo tax allow me to download the info I have now? My plan is to combine that with the form on the IRS site and mail it in. My concern is this gets pushed back every week!

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 5:00:45 PM

"Why does the form that turbotax uses have to be approved"

Because TurboTax is a ERO service provider licensed by the IRS and must comply with all IRS regulations.   Any form that TurboTax has must meet the IRS specifications for that form and must be submitted to the IRS for final approval before it can be released.   

That is mainly for e-filing since the form encrypted by TurboTax according to IRS specifications must be able to be unencrypted by the IRS when they receive it so it must pass all IRS tests prior to release.

There are only a few "mail only" forms and the IRS does not have a different procedure for those - all forms must go though the same testing.   And paper filed forms must also meet IRS specifications so that they can be machine scanned by the IRS when received to avoid manual data entry.

Returning Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:00:47 PM

i was told it was gonna be available to efile this friday  the 22nd now i keep getting different answers. what is the accurate answer???

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 5:00:49 PM

The IRS Form 8915B, Qualified 2017 Disaster Retirement Plan Distributions & Repayments  is currently estimated to be available on 02/28/19.
See this TurboTax support FAQ for IRS Forms availability - <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1908854-irs-forms-availability-table-for-turbotax-individual-perso">https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1908854-irs-forms-availability-table-for-turbotax-individual-perso</a>...

Returning Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:00:49 PM

Thank you, that is what I saw also. Then I called in to ask if it was going to be available for efile as i know other programs are available to efile, just don't wanna redo all that work...... I was told then that it was giong to be available the 22nd for efiling.  Wish I could get a straight answer.....

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 5:00:51 PM

The 8915B will never be able to be e-filed.  It is mail file only. The IRS has not provided e-file specifications or modified the IRS e-file software to allow e-file.   Very few taxpayers can use that form.

Returning Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:00:54 PM

Not true, tax act has it available to efile and I efile it last year.

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:00:55 PM

So if it will never be able to be e-filed and the IRS has the form on it’s site why am I being prevented from filing? As much as I hate to start over I might have to. It’s irritating getting conflicting answers.

Returning Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:00:57 PM

I agree. I don’t wanna have to start all over but I keep getting conflicting answers..

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 5:00:57 PM

TurboTax says in this form list that it will be available on Feb 28 for printing but e-file is not supported.

<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://care-cdn.prodsupportsite.a.intuit.com/forms-availability/turbotax_fed_online_individual.html">https://care-cdn.prodsupportsite.a.intuit.com/forms-availability/turbotax_fed_online_individual.html</a>

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:00:59 PM

Yes but it said it would be available 2/16 and 2/22 before that

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 5:01:00 PM

The IRS kept delaying the instructions just released on 2/14.  Takes about 2 weeks after that.

Also, TurboTax has scheduled updates that contain several fixes and form updates.   If they had an update whenever a single form became available desktop users would be spending hours downloading and installing updates every day.   Form updates are scheduled for the next scheduled release and if not ready for that then is put off to the next update.

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:01:05 PM

It was available for efile last year through Turbo Tax, (had to wait until almost March, just like this year)  so what’s the difference this year that it can not be e-filed? Getting too many conflicting answers. Can you? If so I will wait and use Turbo Tax. If you can’t, I will use a different service this year that does allow it!!!! Hate to have to redue taxes but the difference in getting refund in 5-7 days as opposed to 6-8 weeks is huge.

Returning Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:01:07 PM

 I completely agree with you, and the fact that nobody has a straight answer is driving me nuts. Someone said it’s highly unusual for people to need this document not really I’ve been countered quite a few people that needed it. I’m understand what the dang delay is.