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Level 2
February 2, 2024
Question

Special Military processing

  • February 2, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 24 views

I have a return for a military member with nontaxable combat pay on his W-2. I get an efile error (ref #6665) requiring special military processing to e-file. The drop down list provided is not current or consistent with the combat zones listed on the IRS website.

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/military/combat-zones

I was advised by support to paper file the return. This is not an acceptable solution. The field needs to be updated or better guidance is needed how to prepare returns for service members.

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2 replies

Level 4
March 26, 2024

Multiple attempts at doing the same thing.  Several hours on calls with tech support, and all the untrained front line operators have not got a clue what they are talking about.   With 30 years of Lacerte experience why must I have to deal with morons having zero training working remotely and unsupervised from their apartments?  Escalated twice.  Actually told me to just chose one from the drop down!  Told her to simply google those, they all ended over a decade ago!  Showed her the IRS and DFAS sites which list current theaters, and they are not listed in Lacerte.  And you cannot override the field, put in Other, or manually enter anything.  So after two days of fighting with untrained Lacerte people I am left with either choosing something wrong from the dropdown or filing while disengaging diagnostics.  Neither is acceptable.  And as can be seen by the date stamp on original post this is an issue that is months old already.  Lacerte just simply does not care.  

sjrcpa
Level 15
March 26, 2024

Doesn't Box 1 of the W-2 only have the taxable wages? ie nontaxable combat pay has been excluded already?

What special processing are you looking for? An extended due date?

The more I know the more I don’t know.
Level 4
March 26, 2024

W2 input uses code q in box 12.  That is OK.  But then you need to input screen 4 under misc for efile processing, there is a dropdown for Special Military Processing and date entered combat zone.  This dropdown box still lists theaters that were closed over 15 years ago!  Not the current ones.

Level 2
April 2, 2024

I am having the same issue.  The combat zone that I need was on previous tax year but not on 2023?  For the amount of money spent on this software compared to other software, we should have an accurate list of combat zones.  

Level 4
April 5, 2024

see the update out today (4.4.24)  At least they added the generic "Combat Zone" to the drop down.  Not sure why we cannot get those specifically listed on the IRS site, but the generic should help.  ALL of the time in the past using the others, except the other new Peninsula one, has generated IRS response letters.  Lets hope this time it works.