When I did my taxes earlier this year I was not able to e-file through H&R Block’s software. The program kept telling me (I tried more than once!)that I could not e-file because I was claiming ministerial income and a housing allowance, and then it would reference Publication 517.
Publication 517 deals with Housing Allowance for Ministers and it does state that if a Pastor has unreimbursed ministerial expenses that they are claiming on their tax return then they must file a worksheet (because when claiming a housing allowance not all unreimbursed expenses can be claimed). But since I was not claiming unreimbursed ministerial expenses I should not have had to fill out a worksheet.
So, because of a bug in H&R Block’s software, I had to manually file – which cost me money (and of course H&R Block won’t refund any part of their package cost which includes e-file which I cannot do because of their mistake!).
Frustrating! When even the “tax pros” cannot get it right, then the tax code is too complicated. Not only did it cost me a little more money, but it cost me more time having to print out copies to mail, getting it to the post office, etc.
Because of this I may switch tax software next year. I went with H&R Block because it was cheaper than TurboTax, but it will no longer be cheaper if I have to manually submit my tax return!
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THIS IS THE 2ND YEAR I’VE HAD TO FILE PAPER BECAUSE OF THIS SAME SOFTWARE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT H&R COULD MAKE AN ELECTRONIC FORM TO EXPLAIN WHATEVER IT IS WE’RE EXPLAINING ABOUT THE HOUSING ALLOWANCE. FOR THE 2ND YEAR I AM TICKED OVER THIS. THEY TOLD ME LAST YEAR THEY WERE GOING TO FIX IT. GUESS I’LL MAIL THE PAPER AGAIN.
I had the same problem last year with H&R Block which is why I switched this year to Turbo Tax. I understand your pain!
Same situation here. Other software allows ministers to e-file but not H&R Block. It’s the last time for me to use it!