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New Member
posted Apr 27, 2025 4:08:03 PM

EI special benefits for the self-employed error

I accidentally clicked that I had a special agreement with Canada Employment Insurance Commission for EI premiums on self-employment (even though I am not self-employed) and now I get an error that i "have entered amounts needed to claim the EI special benefits for the self-employed, without indicating I have an agreement with the Canada Employment Insurance Commission...Please review your selection." It seems that the Fix option just takes me back to the Yes/No selection but gives me no direction as to where the amounts were entered that I should correct. Is this another CRA Error or is it TurboTax Error that someone can help me with?

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2 Replies
Returning Member
Apr 30, 2025 10:47:38 AM

This is most likely a TurboTax navigation issue, not a CRA error. Let me help you fix it:

  1. Go to the "Income" section of TurboTax
  2. Look for "Employment Insurance" or "Self-Employment" sections
  3. You need to find and clear two things:
    1. The checkbox indicating you have a special agreement
    2. Any amounts you might have entered related to EI premiums for self-employment

If the Fix button isn't helping, try this alternative approach:

  • Go to "Search" in TurboTax (usually at the top)
  • Type "EI special benefits" or "self-employed EI"
  • This should take you directly to the relevant screens

Another option is to check the Forms view:

  • Look for Form T1 lines related to EI premiums
  • Check for any entries on lines 31217, 31220, or 31215
  • Clear any amounts there if you're not self-employed

If you still can't find it, you might need to start a new return and re-enter your information carefully, as sometimes these circular error references can be difficult to resolve.

New Member
May 1, 2025 7:45:38 PM

Did those things and it didn't work.

Deleting the return and starting over is declaration of a shoddy program.

After spending hours trying to get thru to CRA, hours trying to fix other errors, and hours entering in data, to have to start all over is simply unacceptable.