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Deductions & Credits

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Updating Your Credit Card Information

To update your payment information, follow these steps: Sign in to your TaxAct Account online. Click Orders & Downloads. Select the blue link update credit card information. Click the Order ID and follow the on-screen instructions to update your payment details. This option may not be available for all account types. For more information, see […]

Oregon 529 College Savings Network Account and ABLE Account Contribution Credits

Oregon taxpayers are eligible for a tax credit for contributions made to an Oregon College Savings Plan account and/or to an ABLE account. The credit limit is calculated for each account type and varies depending on the tax year. To qualify for these credits, you must make the contributions by April 15 of the filing […]

Repayment of Income – IRC 1341 Credit

If you had to repay an amount that you included in your income in an earlier year, you may be able to deduct the amount repaid from your income for the year in which you repaid it; OR if the amount you repaid is more than $3,000, you may be able to take a credit […]

Repayment of Income – General IRC Credit

If you had to repay an amount that you included in your income in an earlier year, you may be able to deduct the amount repaid from your income for the year in which you repaid it. Method 1 — Deduction Figure your tax for 20YY claiming a deduction for the repaid amount. If you […]

Form 1099-LTC – Long-Term Care and Accelerated Death Benefits

To enter long-term care premiums paid, follow the steps below.  Online Dashboard From within your TaxAct return, click Deductions & Credits.  On smaller devices, click the menu at the top left corner of your screen, then make your selection. Click the Medical drop-down. Click Add beside Medical Expenses.  Enter your medical insurance premiums paid (if applicable), […]

Personal Property Taxes Paid

To claim personal property taxes paid in the TaxAct program, follow the steps below.  The TaxAct program will transfer the information to Schedule A (Form 1040). If you don’t know if your vehicle registration fees are based on value, contact your taxing authority for verification.   NOTE: For tax purposes, taxes you pay on your home […]

Form 8880 – Full-Time Student Status

If you were a full-time student, and reported that in the TaxAct program, you can’t attach Form 8880 to Schedule 3 (Form 1040)  to receive the retirement savings contributions credit on line 4. If you were not a full-time student, and you need to edit that information in the TaxAct program, follow the steps below. Form […]

Qualified Business Income Deduction – View Entries

To view a summary of your QBI deductions, follow the steps below: Online Dashboard From within your TaxAct return, click Resources. On smaller devices, click the menu at the top left corner of your screen, then make your selection. Under My Return, click Federal Search.  Click the Business Income drop-down, then click Qualified business income (QBI) […]

Form 8845 – Indian Employment Credit

To access Form 8845 Indian Employment Credit in the TaxAct program, follow the steps below. The credit amount in the TaxAct program will transfer to Form 3800, General Business Credit, which will transfer to Line 6 of Schedule 3 (Form 1040), Additional Credits and Payments.   Online Dashboard From within your TaxAct return, click Resources. […]

Form 8839 – Adoption Credit and Exclusion

Use Form 8839, Qualified Adoption Expenses to figure the amount of your adoption credit and any employer-provided adoption benefits you can exclude from your income. You can claim both the credit and the exclusion for expenses of adopting an eligible child. To enter information for the adoption credit (Form 8839) in the TaxAct program, follow […]

Form 8801 – Entering Credit for Prior Year Minimum Tax in Program

Federal Form 8801, Credit for Prior Year Minimum Tax – Individuals, Estates, and Trusts is for the calculation of a credit in certain circumstances when one has had the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) in a prior year. Certain numbers are automatically pulled into the form from the current year’s return in anticipation that the form […]

Form 5695 – Residential Energy Credits

To enter information for Form 5695 in the TaxAct program, follow the steps below.  Online Dashboard From within your TaxAct return, click Deduction & Credits.  On smaller devices, click the menu at the top left corner of your screen, then make your selection. Click the Your Home drop-down. Click Add beside Home Energy Credits.  Complete the […]

Form 4952 – Investment Interest Expense Deduction and Investment Expenses

Investment (margin) interest deduction is claimed on Form 4952, Investment Interest Expense Deduction and the allowable deduction will flow to Schedule A (Form 1040) Itemized Deductions, Line 9 to be claimed as an itemized deduction, up to the amount of your investment income. To enter the information for Form 4952 in the TaxAct program, follow […]

Professional Edition – Form 3903 – Moving Expenses

Form 3903 calculates the deductible moving expenses for active-duty military due to a military-ordered permanent change of station (PCS). The expenses are calculated on Form 3903, Moving Expenses, and reported as an adjustment on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), Additional Income and Adjustments to Income, Line 14. See the IRS Instructions for Form 3903 for details.   […]

Form 2441 – Entering Child and Dependent Care Expenses in Program

To complete Form 2441, follow the steps below. At the end of the entry process:  If the credit is not allowed, a reason is shown.  If the credit is allowed, the amount will be displayed. The credit carries to Form 2441 and Form 1040, Schedule 3. Online Dashboard From within your TaxAct return, click Deductions […]

Form 2106 – Entering Unreimbursed Employee Expenses in Program

Form 2106, Employee Business Expenses, can be claimed only by Armed Forces reservists, qualified performing artists, fee-basis state or local government officials, and employees with impairment-related work expenses. To file Form 2106 for Armed Forces reservists, qualified performing artists, fee-basis state or local government officials, follow these steps. Online Dashboard From within your TaxAct return, click […]

Form 8283 – Noncash Charitable Contributions

Form 8283, Noncash Charitable Contributions, is used to report information about noncash charitable contributions. To enter this information in the TaxAct program, follow the steps below.  Online Dashboard From within your TaxAct return, click Deductions & Credits. On smaller devices, click the menu at the top left corner of your screen, then make your selection. […]

Form 1045 – Schedule A-NOL (Current Year NOL) (CARRYFORWARD)

If your return generates a Net Operating Loss (NOL) for the current year, the TaxAct program will display a Green Alert titled “Explanation: Net Operating Loss.” This alert indicates that an NOL has been calculated and requires review. If your NOL is more than your taxable income for the year to which you carry it […]

Mortgage Insurance Premiums – Entering In TaxAct

Per IRS Publication 530, you can’t deduct any of the following items. Insurance (other than mortgage insurance premiums), including fire and comprehensive coverage, and title insurance. Wages you pay for domestic help. Depreciation. The cost of utilities, such as gas, electricity, or water. Most settlement costs. See Settlement or closing costs under Cost as Basis, […]

Miscellaneous Deductions

Before you claim a deduction, you can go to IRS Publication 529, Miscellaneous Deductions, to see if you’re eligible to claim it. To claim a deduction in the TaxAct program, follow the steps below.  Online Dashboard From within your TaxAct return, click Resources. On smaller devices, click the menu at the top left corner of […]

Medical and Dental Expenses

To enter your medical and dental expenses in the TaxAct program, follow the steps below. Online Dashboard From within your TaxAct return, click Deductions & Credits.  On smaller devices, click the menu at the top left corner of your screen, then make your selection. Click the Medical drop-down. Click Add beside Medical Expenses.  Complete the rest […]

Married Filing Separate – Itemized Deductions Forced

Per IRS Publication 504, if one spouse itemizes deductions on a Married Filing Separately return, the other spouse cannot claim the standard deduction.To indicate that your spouse filed MFS and itemized deductions on their return, follow the steps below.  Online Dashboards From within your TaxAct return, click About. On smaller devices, click the menu at […]

Foreign Earned Income – Exclusion and Foreign Tax Credit (or Deduction)

If you received foreign income, you must report it on your individual income tax return. IRS Form 2555 Foreign Earned Income, Form 1116 Foreign Tax Credit, or Schedule A (Form 1040) Itemized Deductions may provide income tax benefits. See the following for entering income or distributions from foreign entities:  Foreign Earned Compensation – FEC Foreign […]

Sales Tax – Elect General Sales Tax Deduction or State Income Tax Deduction

If you want to elect to take the sales tax deduction or the state income tax deduction (even though one of them is a greater amount), follow the steps below.  Online Dashboard From within your TaxAct return, click Resources. On smaller devices, click the menu at the top left corner of your screen, then make […]

Enter or Edit General Sales Tax Deduction

You can elect to deduct state and local GENERAL SALES TAXES instead of state and local INCOME TAXES as an itemized deduction on Schedule A (Form 1040) Itemized Deductions. You cannot deduct both. To figure your state and local general sales tax deduction, you can use either your actual expenses or the state sales tax […]

Form 5498-SA – Contributions to an Archer MSA, MA MSA, or Health Savings Account

Form 5498-SA HSA, Archer MSA, or Medicare Advantage MSA Information, reports contributions to one of the following: Archer MSA Generally, contributions you make to your Archer MSA are deductible. Employer contributions are excluded from your income and are not deductible by you. If your employer contributes to one of your Archer MSAs, you cannot contribute […]

Form 1098-C – Contributions of Motor Vehicles, Boats, and Airplanes

Follow the steps below to enter information from Form 1098-C in TaxAct. See the IRS Instructions for Form 1098-C for details about claiming the contribution deduction.  Online Dashboard From within your TaxAct return, click Deductions & Credits.  On smaller devices, click the menu at the top left corner of your screen, then make your selection. […]

Form 1098 – More Than One Borrower

To enter the information in your TaxAct return when another individual (other than your spouse if filing a joint return) received a Form 1098, Mortgage Interest Statement, for interest you also were liable for, follow the steps below.  Online Dashboard From within your TaxAct return, click Deductions & Credits.  On smaller devices, click the menu […]

Form 1098 – Entering Points Not Reported

You may need to enter points not reported to you on Form 1098, Mortgage Interest Statement, to determine if they are fully deductible in the current year or if you must deduct them over the life of the loan. See IRS Publication 936 and IRS Topic No. 504 Home Mortgage Points for details. To enter points […]

Form 1098 – Entering in Program

When you enter Form 1098 (Mortgage Interest Statement) in TaxAct, the information flows to the Itemized Deductions section and, if you itemize, appears on Schedule A of your federal return. TaxAct compares your itemized deductions to the standard deduction and uses whichever provides the greater benefit. Mortgage interest is deductible only when the loan is […]

Education Credits and Deductions – Enter, Review, Modify

The IRS allows qualifying education expenses to be applied to one of the following education benefits: American Opportunity Credit Lifetime Learning Credit Tuition and Fees Deduction (Tax Years 2020 and earlier only) See IRS Publication 970 for more information about education credits. Entering Education Expenses To enter your education expenses and qualifications, follow the steps […]

Earned Income Credit Not Wanted on Return

The Earned Income Credit (EIC) is calculated by the program automatically if the return qualifies for the credit. To remove the credit from a return that qualifies for it, you need to select the item that disqualifies your return or check the box I don’t want to or cannot claim the earned income credit this […]

Earned Income Credit – Entering in TaxAct

TaxAct® automatically calculates the Earned Income Credit (EIC) based on the information in your return. If you have a dependent that is a qualifying child, enter your dependent information (including name, SSN, relationship to you, year of birth, number of months lived with you, and student status). TaxAct will then use dependent information in the […]

Professional Editions – Enter Default Credit Card Information

To enter default credit card or bank product information: From within your TaxAct Professional Edition program, click Preparer in the upper menu bar, hover your mouse over Master Information, then click Preparers. Click the Pencil Icon next to the preparer name, then click Electronic Filing Info. Click Enter Credit Card, and enter your information. Click Continue, and click Save and […]

Resubmitting E-File with New Credit Card Number

You will need to complete the filing steps again, and enter different credit card information: From within your TaxAct return (Online or Desktop), click Filing (on smaller devices, click in the top left corner of your screen, then click Filing). On the screen titled Paper/E-Filing – Federal Balance Due Options, click the circle next to […]