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Level 2
June 22, 2026
Question

Have used Lacerte for years but problem with 2025 S Corp balance sheet

  • June 22, 2026
  • 3 replies
  • 40 views

Preparing 2025 S Corp tax return in Lacerte that involves a FICA Tip Credit of $13,429, which provides Federal tax credit to the S Corp shareholders, and also becomes a non-deductible expense on the S Corp return. Have done this & similar returns in prior years with no issues but this year has been a time-consuming problem with no resolution yet. Form 8846 calculates the FICA Tip Credit of $13,429 and that gets entered on schedule K lines 13g (tax credit) and 16c (nondeductible expense. Also reported on M-1 changing book loss on line 1 to Ordinary Income of $9,861 (agrees with page 1, line 22). Schedule L shows total assets of $116,631, and Liabilities & Equity of $103,2902 an Equity shortage of $13,429. That amount is the FICA Tip Credit of $13,484 less a prior year correction of $55 expense booked after 2024 tax return was completed. Correction shifted $55 expense from 2024 to 2025, so 12/31/2024 Retained Earnings ties to 2024 tax return. Hoping for guidance on how to correct this mess that has cost numerous hours of frustration. Tried CPAPilot and was no help.

3 replies

Level 2
June 22, 2026

Correction to first sentence: FICA Tip Credit is actually $13,484 as explained further below.

sjrcpa
Level 15
June 22, 2026

Why would the book loss change? Books have a deductible expense. For tax purposes it’s nondeductible. Both kinds of expenses reduce income.

The more I know the more I don’t know.
abctax55
Level 15
June 22, 2026

Where are you entering the info?

I used Screen 26.2 > Sch K Credits > Employer SS Credit (8846) . box “Tips subject to social security/medicare tax”.

Lacerte computed the credit automatically & reduced PR Tax expense accordingly with no extra effort on my part.

 

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