Skip to main content
January 26, 2022
Question

Mortgage Interest deduction issue or a bug in the software

  • January 26, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 0 views

My wife and I had a loan for our primary house that was taken out in 2020.  In November of 2021 the house was completed, we took out a conventional mortgage and paid off the construction load.  We have received the 1099's from the bank for both loans.  The amount Box 2, Outstanding Balance, on the construction loan is obviously zero.  However, Turbotax will not accept a zero balance as an entry in this box, even if I type in 0.00.  Is this a bug in the software or am I missing something?

    2 replies

    PatriciaV
    Employee
    January 26, 2022

    Please clarify what version of TurboTax you are using.
    Have you tried deleting the 1098 entries and entering again?
    You should be able to enter zero for the mortgage balance.

    **Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"
    PatriciaV
    Employee
    January 26, 2022

    Please clarify what version of TurboTax you are using.
    Have you tried deleting the 1098 entries and entering again?
    You should be able to enter zero for the mortgage balance.

    **Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"
    chief54Author
    January 26, 2022

    Patricia:

     

    I am using TurboTax 2021, WinPerRelease 21.000.0407

     

    I just deleted the 1098 in the Step-By-Step section of the program, re-entered the information and again got the following error message: 'Outstanding Mortgage Principal Must Have A Value'.  FYI, I enter 0.00 in this box.

    January 26, 2022

    box 2 is supposed to be the balance at the beginning of 2021.

     from 1098 instructions: Box 2. Shows the outstanding principal on the mortgage as of January 1 of the
    calendar year. If the mortgage originated in the calendar year, shows the
    mortgage principal as of the date of origination. If the recipient/lender acquired
    the loan in the calendar year, shows the mortgage principal as of the date of
    acquisition.