Why was I able to split pension last year and can’t this year?

[TurboTaxBrenda]

What issue are you getting that doesn't allow you to split your pension?

[landtis]

It says that by the info in the profile tab doesn’t allow us to split. I have gone and made sure I check marked the box on both returns and then on just his.  He is the one collecting a variable pension. 

[TurboTaxSusan]

Are you using TurboTax Desktop or TurboTax Online? Are you preparing your returns together or separately. What kinds of pensions are you trying to split?

[landtis]

It is TurboTax online, we always prepare together and it is my husband’s variable pension he collects monthly. 

[dpinksen]

TurboTax, I'm having the same problem. I've selected to split pension income with my spouse, as I did last year, but nothing is being transferred to my spouse. Our incomes are the same as last year. No idea how to access the "pension income splitting optimizer." 

[TurboTaxAniqua]

@dpinksen Are you using TurboTax Desktop or TurboTax Online? Are you preparing your returns together or separately. What kinds of pensions are you trying to split?

[TurboTaxAniqua]

@landtis Can you please contact our phone support team at 1-888-829-8608 so that they can view your screen and be sure it has been entered correctly.

If you and your spouse or common-law partner both receive pension income but are in different tax brackets, it might make sense to split your pension income.

The TurboTax Pension Splitting Optimizer automatically calculates the best distribution of your pension income, which can help you and your spouse pay less in taxes. TurboTax uses all the information entered into your tax returns to determine the amount (up to one half) that can be split with your spouse.

You're also shown a comprehensive view of the different ways you can split your pension income, and TurboTax will recommend the best option to optimize your return. The option of choosing the recommendation or picking a different split is entirely up to you.

Note:

• Not all pension is eligible for splitting
• TurboTax's Pension Splitting Optimizer is available only if you're preparing your return and your spouse's return together at the same time
• The Pension Splitting Optimizer is included in all online editions of TurboTax, except TurboTax Free