No w2 on foreign income

[Ruth1]

I have foreign income for which there is no W2 and I'd like to e-file. The diagnostics asks for a fed ID # on the employer which doesn't exist. I must be inputting income

incorrectly although I thought I followed the Lacerte instructions on the 2555 under foreign wages. Can someone assist me please?

[Kathi_at_Intuit · Accepted solution]

What is the diagnostic, it sounds like you need to scroll down to the Electronic Filing section (W-2), check off the box under Foreign Employer Compensation>Compensation not reported on W-2 and then put the country code in the box that says Country code if work not performed while residing in the US. 

[Ruth1]

Yes, thank you. I did do  that. I'm glad  you asked me about the diagnostic because it was about a MA form not a federal. Just an informational form. Maybe I can get by without it. Thanks!

[Kathi_at_Intuit]

Good to hear. If it is informational, then it will not stop the return form e-filing, it would have to be Fatal or Critical and start with e-file:

[Ruth1]

It says its critical. I just have to find a work around.

[Ruth1]

Criminy, Now its saying I need a city, state and zip code even though I said it was a foreign address. Critical diagnostic. I'm in screen 31 Employer information.

[Kathi_at_Intuit]

The 2555 diagnostics remind me of Form 5471 diagnostics. There is a lot of information to fill out for this form, just like the other, and when you think you are done there always seems to be one more to check on.  If it is screen 31.2 If the checkbox is checked for Foreign Address for the Employer Information, it should gray out the State and Zip code boxes.

[Ruth1]

Yes, you are correct. I didn't realize I hadn't put the city back in after I was playing with it.