Question

2024 Federal return efile rejected with error S3-F1040-144

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
March 25, 2025
5 replies
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Here's the message:

S3-F1040-144 - If Schedule 3 (Form 1040), 'ExcessSocSecAndTier1RRTATaxAmt' has a non-zero value, then at least two Form W-2s with the same 'EmployeeSSN' must be present in the return.

I checked (through EasyStep of my TurboTax Desktop Premier) and confirmed that my SSN was shown on both of my W2,s and my wife's SSN was shown on both of her W2s. The excess social security withhold is for me, so my wife's W2s shouldn't matter. I even checked W2s under 'Forms', and my SSN was shown on both W2s.

Experts, any suggestion on solving this issue? TurboTax Smart Check did not show any error. I have zero for box 1 of one of my W2 (IHSS livein provider in Calfornia), but should be fine. I found https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en-us/help/ultratax-cs/1040/1040-e-file-errors/s3-f1040-144 regarding zero on box 1 of W2, but I am not sure if that's correct.

If, unfortunately, I have to mail in my federal tax return, what pages/forms should I print out and send?

LindaS5247

Did you try deleting your W-2's and reentering them? Sometimes that clears up issues.

Click "Search" at the top right of your screen
In the search box, type "W-2"
Click on "Jump to W-2"
Click on "Add a W-2" or if you are deleting your Form W-2 you can click on the garbage can icon to delete it
On the next screen click on "Type it Myself"
On the next screens you will be prompted to enter your W-2 information from your form
Answer all questions on the follow-up screens

If you are using TurboTax Desktop, you can enter your Form W-2 as follows:

Open or continue your return
Click "Search" at the top right of your screen
In the search box, type "W-2"
Click on "Jump to W-2"
Your screen will say "We'll start with your W-2", click the box "Work on my W-2" want to file or if you are deleting your W-2 click on the garbage can icon to delete it
Your screen will say "Let's Start With a Bit of Info From Your W-2" , enter your Employer ID from Box b of your W-2"
Click on "Continue"
You can select "Type it myself"
The next screens will prompt you for the information you see on your W-2.
Answer all questions on the follow-up screens

Click here for additional information on manually entering your W-2.

Click here for additional information regarding editing your Form W-2

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H

henrysfAuthor

Thanks @LindaS5247 I deleted all W2s and entered them again, but that did not help. My Federal efile was still rejected with the same error code. I guess I am out of luck?! I will get ready to file by mail.

LindaS5247

Have you tried calling TurboTax Customer Support? They may be able to share your screen and help you better. You can try contacting TurboTax Customer service using this link: Turbo Tax Customer Service

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H

henrysfAuthor

Looking back at my tax return last year, I actually put the same number from IHSS W2's box 3 to box 1, selected "uncommon situations"->"Nontaxable Medicaid payments that qualify as difficulty of care payments", and claimed full amount of box 1 value. I was able to efile last year, so that looks like another workaround in addition to adding $1 to box 1. Though, on last year (2023)'s IHSS W2, there was no box 12. On this year (2024), there was box 12 (code II with full amount of box 3 there). I am not sure if that matters from IRS's perspective though.

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dipsys

I have the same issue. I too have ihss related W2 with $0 in Box and getting the same error

'ExcessSocSecAndTier1RRTATaxAmt' has a non-zero value, then at least two Form W-2s with the same 'EmployeeSSN' must be present in the return

Why is TurboTax passing the Review and then getting this rejected when e-filing?

What does Turbo Tax need to do to fix this?

B

BrittanyS

The issue is occurring because there is a $0 in box 1. It's not being recognized as a separate W-2. Previously TurboTax would block any $0 Box 1 W-2 from being e-filed, and the return had to be mailed in. The steps provided by DawnC or henrysf are the best workarounds. You can enter $1 in box 1 or the amount in box 3. Both should clear the e-file rejection.

@dipsys

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M

MonikaK1

Error S3-F1040-144 is specifically referring to the credit for Excess Social Security withholding.

In order to receive a refundable credit for excess social security withholding, you have to have reported at least two Forms W-2. If you had excess withholding from just one employer, you need to ask the employer to refund the excess withholding. If the employer doesn't adjust the overcollection, you can use Form 843, Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement to claim a refund. Attach copies of your Forms W-2, Wage and Tax Statement for the year to Form 843.

See IRS Tax Topic 608 for more information.

If you have this error on your return, revisit the W-2 section in TurboTax. If you are filing a joint return, check to see if you have identified each W-2 correctly as belonging to "self" or "spouse". If a W-2 is mislabeled as belonging to the wrong spouse, TurboTax will see the Social Security withholding as belonging to one person instead of two, even if the correct Social Security numbers are on each W-2. Mislabeling the owner of a W-2 is a common source of this error.

Please also see this TurboTax help article for more information and steps to correct.

If one of your W-2s is for IHSS Medicaid Waiver payments, and you have a zero in Box 1, see this help article for more information.

If the only entry on your W-2 is in Box 12 (there's a blank or a $0 in Box 1), and you want to use the income to qualify for Earned Income Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit, you can enter the W-2 as is.

If the only entry on your W-2 is in Box 12 (there's a blank or a $0 in Box 1) and you don’t want to use the income to qualify for Earned Income Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit, you don’t need to enter the W-2 at all.

We tested the situation with Box 1 being zero earlier in the season when the IHSS help article was being updated. The Box 12 code and related TurboTax steps are new this year. At that time, the steps in the article were working. Please advise if you follow the steps in the article and get a different result.

Thank you.

[Edited 04/01/25| 2:59pm PST]

@henrysf

@dipsys

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D

dipsys

I am filing single as head of household with one employer W2 and one ihss W2. I need to enter the ihss W2 even though I don't need the EIC because I want the excess SS taxes to be credited.

Box 1 is 0 and Box 12 a has a value. In the 1040 Turbo Tax correctly deducts the ihss W2 value and allows to e-file (there was an error earlier in Jan and that appears to be fixed now). The excess Social Security from the ihss W2 is also correctly credited and passes review. But then the e-filing is later rejected by the IRS because the W2 is 0 with the F-1040-144 error.

If I do the earlier work around and enter a value in Box 1 but leave Box 12 a blank, and then check off medicaid waiver in uncommon situations on the next page, then the 1040 passes review. I have not yet e-filed because I believe that leaving the Box 12 a blank in Turbo Tax is incorrect as the W2 does have a value in it. This is what Turbo Tax needs to fix in the product @MonikaK1

M

MonikaK1

Thank you; I had just replied in your other thread.

If one of your W-2s is for IHSS Medicaid Waiver payments, and you have a zero in Box 1, see this help article for more information.

Normally:

If the only entry on your W-2 is in Box 12 (there's a blank or a $0 in Box 1), and you want to use the income to qualify for Earned Income Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit, you can enter the W-2 as is.

If the only entry on your W-2 is in Box 12 (there's a blank or a $0 in Box 1) and you don’t want to use the income to qualify for Earned Income Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit, you don’t need to enter the W-2 at all.

However, you have an unusual situation in that you appear to be entitled to a credit for excess Social Security withholding between your IHSS W-2 and the W-2 form your other employer, so you will want to enter the Social Security withholding for both.

We tested the situation with Box 1 being zero earlier in the season when the IHSS help article was being updated. The Box 12 code and related TurboTax steps are new this year. At that time, the steps in the article were working. In the previous version of the help article, we advised entering the Box 3 amount again in Box 1, but this no longer worked when the Box 12 code was added this year.

Try entering $1 in Box 1 of the IHSS W-2 instead of zero. Check your return to confirm that the IHSS income is excluded only one time.

@dipsys

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B

BrittanyS

If you wish to e-file instead of mailing in your return, you will need to enter $1 in Box 1 of the IHSS W-2 instead of zero. This rejection occurs because the IRS won't accept a $0 in Box 1 as an e-filed return. The other option is to leave Box 1 as $0 and file your return by mail.

@dipsys

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