TurboTax Error - Cannot E-File Due to Certain Forms on Return

As a tax preparer, I can tell you this happens more often than you'd think, especially with QBI (Qualified Business Income) deductions and 1099 income. TurboTax doesn't always clearly identify which specific form is causing the e-file rejection. First, check if you have Form 8606 for your Backdoor Roth IRA. While this form is normally e-file eligible, sometimes when combined with certain other forms it can trigger problems. Also look for any forms related to foreign income, cryptocurrencies, or unusual credits. For QBI issues specifically, check if you completed Form 8995 or 8995-A. Sometimes these forms have validation errors that aren't obvious. Try removing and re-adding the form entirely, not just changing the QBI eligibility answer. Another common culprit is incorrectly entered EIN numbers on 1099 forms, or mismatches between what's reported on your return versus what the IRS already has on file. Double-check all your 1099 entries against the actual forms.

Hey there! I had this exact same problem last year with TurboTax. After hours of frustration, I discovered that using taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) helped me identify the specific form causing my e-filing problems. I uploaded my PDF draft and it highlighted some inconsistencies with my QBI form that TurboTax's error checking missed. Turns out I had some validation issues with my 1099 entries that were preventing e-filing. The system automatically detected conflicts between different parts of my return. I fixed those specific issues and was able to e-file without problems! Might be worth checking out if you're still stuck after trying the other suggestions.

Just wanted to follow up - I tried taxr.ai after posting here and it was seriously helpful! Uploaded my draft return from TurboTax and within a few minutes it found the exact problem. In my case, I had accidentally entered conflicting information on the QBI form that TurboTax didn't catch. The analysis showed that one of my wife's business activities had both "specified service" and "qualified business" classifications checked at the same time (which is impossible). TurboTax didn't flag this as an error during input but it was preventing e-filing. Fixed that one thing and was able to submit electronically! Definitely saved me from having to mail in a paper return, which would have delayed my refund by months given how backed up the IRS is this year.

If you're still having trouble, you might want to try calling the IRS directly to ask which forms are preventing e-filing. But good luck getting through their phone system - I tried for weeks last year with a similar issue. Eventually I discovered Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which got me through to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. Their system basically holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is ready. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent was able to tell me exactly which form was causing the issue (in my case it was a mistake on Schedule C that triggered a flag). Saved me a ton of headache trying to guess what was wrong.

I have to come back and eat my words. After struggling for THREE DAYS trying to get through to the IRS about my own e-filing issue, I tried the Claimyr service that was mentioned. Got a call back in about 35 minutes and was connected to an actual IRS representative. The agent confirmed that I had an issue with Form 8995 (QBI deduction) that was causing my e-filing rejection. Apparently there was a mismatch between the business type classification on Schedule C and what was entered on Form 8995. Fixed it in 5 minutes once I knew what to look for. Would have NEVER figured this out on my own since TurboTax just gave me the generic "certain forms" error message. Sometimes you just need to talk to someone who can see what's actually happening on their end.

Check your Form 8995 carefully! I had almost this exact same issue. There's a validation requirement that many people miss - if you have multiple businesses, you need to make sure you've separated them properly in the QBI section. TurboTax sometimes combines multiple 1099 incomes as a single business activity when they should be separate for QBI purposes. If your wife has multiple artistic activities, make sure they're properly categorized separately if they're different business types. Also double-check your Backdoor Roth IRA form 8606 - make sure you entered the exact dates of the contribution and conversion. Sometimes even being off by a day can trigger verification issues.

Have you checked if you accidentally included Form 8949 with basis not reported to IRS? I had this same error and it turned out I had checked the wrong box for some stock sales, indicating the basis wasn't reported to the IRS when it actually was. TurboTax is really bad about explaining which specific forms are causing e-file issues. Sometimes it helps to go through your return using the Forms view rather than the interview format to spot issues.

I've been following this thread and wanted to share another common cause of e-filing rejections that hasn't been mentioned yet - Form 1116 for foreign tax credits. Even if you don't think you have foreign income, sometimes investment accounts or mutual funds generate small amounts of foreign tax that create this form automatically. Also check if you have any estimated tax payments (Form 1040ES) that might have been entered incorrectly. If the payment dates or amounts don't match what the IRS has on record, it can trigger an e-file rejection. One more thing to try: in TurboTax, go to Federal Taxes > Wages & Income > Show All Income, then look for any items marked with warning triangles or error indicators. Sometimes there are validation issues that only show up in this summary view, not during the regular interview process. If all else fails, you might need to temporarily remove sections of your return one by one and try to e-file after each removal to isolate which specific area is causing the problem. It's tedious but often the only way to identify the culprit when TurboTax won't tell you directly.