We have run into a problem with expat tax filers whose returns are showing zero income (and refund amount) on their returns through the use of the foreign earned income exclusion and tax credits. If the client has a refund, we are able to e-file, but if the income shows zero (without a refund amount), we receive the following critical error:

"At least one of the following fields must be present on an e-file return: total income, adjusted gross income, tax on income, total credits, total tax, or total payments". 

Does anyone know a way around this issue? Or, will we have no choice but to paper file?