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How to enter information for Form 3800 in Lacerte

by Intuit•13• Updated 5 months ago

Below are solutions to frequently asked questions about entering Form 3800, General Business Credits.

Where do I enter general business credits for an individual return?

Most general business credits can be entered directly and aggregated from passthrough K-1 inputs. To find input sources for a particular credit:

  1. Using the table above determine if the credit is listed on page 3 or page 4 of the 3800.
  2. Go to the Forms tab.
  3. Open Form 3800 to the correct page.
    • If the 3800 is not showing on the Form list make sure you check the Show all checkbox.
  4. Locate the line for the credit you need.
  5. Right-click in the amount column of that line.
  6. Select Jump-to-input.
  7. Enter the credit amounts.

Critical Diagnostic ref 60077:

For tax year 2023 returns you may receive the following diagnostic:

  • Form 3800: development is not yet complete with regards to transfer elections and elective payment elections, one or more of which is present in the General Business & Vehicle Credits input screen. Please do not file the return at this time. This diagnostic will be removed once development has been completed. (ref #60077)

This is generated when you use the new Credit transferred or Gross elective payment fields for the credits. The calculation for these fields is still in development pending a future release.

To enter business credit carryforwards and carrybacks:

  1. Go to Screen 34, General Business and Vehicle Credits.
  2. Select the Carryovers/Misc Info link.
  3. From the sections select Business Credit Carryforwards and Carrybacks (3800)
  4. In the table for Credit Type locate the credit form.
  5. Complete the Year and amounts for the carryforward or carryback.

Where do I enter general business credits for an Partnership or S Corporation return?

The Form 3800 itself is only required when the entity is making an Electing Payment or Credit Transfer. For most entities the credit amounts will pass through to the K-1's to be entered on the 1040 return. The Form 3800 is still in development for 1065 returns.

For Partnership and S Corporation returns, most credits are entered under the Schedule K Credits screen. Credits will flow through to the K-1 for the shareholders and partners. Credits that are eligible to use the new Credit Transferred and Gross Elective Payments will have applicable fields on the credit screen. Using these fields will flow the credit to the 3800.

Where do I enter carryovers from other years?

To enter passive activity credit carryovers:

  1. Go to Screen 34, General Business and Vehicle Credits.
  2. Select the Form the carryovers should be linked to.
  3. Scroll down to the Prior Year Unallowed Credits section.
  4. If the credit is listed here, enter the amount in the appropriate field. Otherwise, scroll to the Other Passive Credit Carryovers section and select the Credit type from the list.

To enter business credit carryforwards and carrybacks:

  1. Go to Screen 34, General Business and Vehicle Credits.
  2. Click on the Carryovers/Misc. Info link at the top left of your screen.
  3. Scroll down to the Business Credit Carryforwards and Carrybacks (3800) section.
  4. Select the Credit Type (Ctrl+T).
  5. Enter the carryforward or carryback amount in the appropriate column.

Where do I enter general business credits for an individual return?

Most general business credits can be entered directly and aggregated from passthrough K-1 inputs. To find input sources for a particular credit:

  1. Go to the Forms tab.
  2. Open Form 3800 and scroll to page 3.
  3. Locate the line for the credit you need.
  4. Right-click in the amount column of that line.
  5. Select Jump-to-input.

After you enter the credits on Screen 28.1, you'll need to manually reduce your basis on Screen 21, Depreciation.

Enter the amount of the reduction using the Basis reduction (amortizable costs expensed, ITC, etc.) fields found under the Federal Depreciation and Regular Depreciation sections.

You can create a statement outside of the program and save it as a PDF to attach to the e-file return in the Electronic Filing screen. Refer to the Instructions for Form 3800 for more information about attaching statements for credits.

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