Can't E-file with W2 having $0 in Box 1- IHSS provider with exempt income

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
December 24, 2020
1 reply
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I am an IHSS provider with live-in client. This makes the income tax exempt. My W2 is correct and shows $0 for Box 1 and 2. But I do have Social Security Tax and Medicare withheld in Boxes 4 and 6.

Since box 1 contains $0, Turbotax won't let me E-file. I'd like to E-file for convenience and receiving my refund faster.

I've searched this forum and there seems to be 3 different recommended ways to get around this:

1) Enter the income as Less Common/Misc Income.

2) Enter $1.00 as income in box 1.

3) Don't bother reporting the W-2 because my income is exempt anyways.

So, which way should I go? Will any of the above workaround trigger IRS audit? Any recommendation from the experts would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

macuser_22

Employee

Since SS and Medicare does not go on a tax return and the IRS does not want a W-2 with zero in box 1 then there is no reason to even enter the W-2, but what are your trying to do. It is way too early to file a 2020 tax return - the IRS will not start accepting 2020 tax returns until after Jan 27, 2021 and 2019 and earlier returns can no longer be e-filed at all - for anyone.

**Disclaimer: This post is for discussion purposes only and is NOT tax advice. The author takes no responsibility for the accuracy of any information in this post.**