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Incorrect Annual Total Wage in Tax Planner

I am experiencing an inexplicable "Wages and Salaries" increase in the tax planner - only AFTER validating my data file. If I don't validate it, everything is okay.

In the image below, selecting any of the three options in blue, the "Annual Total" correctly displays the proper figure as follows (using made up figures):

Scheduled Bills and Deposits = 65,000
Estimated Based on YTD Average = 67,000
No Projected Amount = 50,000

The problem:
If I validate my data file, the "Scheduled Bills and Deposits" annual total changes to 70,000! Opening the Tax Planner and toggling between any of the three options, the Annual Total value will correctly show 65,000 for the scheduled bills and deposits. But the moment I close the Tax Planner window, it reverts back to 70,000! No matter what I have tried, I cannot get the correct value to stick.

Note: Only the Annual Total value changes; the other figures correctly remain as is: 50,000 + 15,000 = 70,000 !!!

In summary, the issue is only with the Scheduled Bills and Deposits selection, isolated to the Annual Total figure, after validation.

Some troubleshooting: I verified that the math with 65,000 for the Scheduled Bills and Deposits is correct. 70,000 does not make sense. I used backup data files from three months ago and similar result (with different values) happens. Ditto with Super Validate. Ditto with creating a template/copy of the file. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" I know.

The validation log is clean with no issues. My Sync has always been disabled. Happens on both, my primary R66.28 and my test set up of R69.29. I am suspecting some corruption in my data file since long ago? I welcome your explanations and suggestions (this is beyond calling support). Thank you.

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Accepted answers

markus1957

As soon as I opened the test file (it had not been opened for a few months) and checked the Tax Planner I noticed the Paycheck reminder was incorrectly reporting categories and amounts in not yet entered paychecks. Recorded entries were still correct as expected.

This is likely a combination of reminder corruption from Quicken updates and validation corruption from not properly incorporating the changes.

As I have time, I might try to make this reproducible in my test file. You seem to have a reproducible condition now in your file so I'd suggest you use Report a Problem to provide before and after files.

Your title for this post should be changed or maybe create a new post to focus on the current issue as you fixed the 401k issue. My suggestion would be -

"File Validation Corrupts a Paycheck Reminder and Causes a Pre-tax Deduction not to Report Properly to Tax Planner". I'd tag it with Bill & Income Reminders and Tax Planner.

If you really want to provide a clean way for Quicken to troubleshoot. Create a new file. Add manual accounts for cash, 401k, HSA. Create a Paycheck Reminder with deductions similar to your current file (use round numbers and different amounts per category so they stand out). Verify Tax Planner reports it correctly. Validate the file and see if the reminder gets corrupted and misreports to Tax Planner. If so, send the file copy that validate creates as the before file and the validated/corrupted file as the after-file using Report a Problem.

If it doesn't corrupt the new file, it may be limited to your current file.

Reporting back based on extensive testing

I created a blank test file in an offline test environment and added the needed categories, checking account, 401K account, and paycheck wizard reminders. I used easy rounded figures. Upon doing a validate an repair, the total wage amount increases by certain remaining paycheck amounts as follows:

In test 1, total wage increased by the combined remaining 401k+HSA amounts
In test 2, total wage increased by the remaining HSA amounts
In test 3, total wage increased by the combined Medical+Dental+Vision amounts (I think purely based on math)!

You must have some history (full current year?) of entered paychecks to see the issue
If the paycheck wizard contains minimal items (Salary, 401k, HSA only), there are no issues (maybe?)
Once the paycheck wizard contains all typical items including all medicals and taxes, the issues comes up
I was not able to figure out which item's presence was the potential culprit
[Tax Impact of 401(k) Accounts] was normal in all cases

In summary, there is an issue with Validate and Repair impacting the total wages amount and paychecks, but (a) may not impact most users and requires a bit of work to reproduce it, but more important (b) it corrects itself once the next paycheck is entered (this is good news). Experts know that using the Validate and Repair should be left to special circumstances only.

My take away: If you encounter this issue, wait until you enter the next paycheck and move on.

Thank you and sorry to have taken you time unnecessarily.

All comments

markus1957

I suspect a corrupted income reminder not fixed by the validation routine. You say the log is clean, but does it report a repaired reminder with no action needed?

This happens more often with the Other Income section where reminders for IRA income don't get handled as expected. When it happens, there is usually a logical reason for the wrong value, like overlooking a split in the reminder.

Things to try-

Use the Reset to Defaults in Tax Planner Menu bar
Try deleting and reentering the reminders that contribute to the section. Use a slightly different name for the reminder. First verify there are not payroll deductions getting overlooked that add up to the difference.
Try using the template copy routine to repair reminder table corruption. That requires reconnecting all of your online accounts.

Thank you @markus1957

The log is completely clean - no repairs/actions reported. Already tried #3. #2 is already next on my list and thanks for #1. Will report back.

@markus1957

I figured it out but I need some more suggestions please. In short, my HSA contribution is still causing problems, but I did clear up most of the corruption:

Deleting only the 2026 paycheck reminders and adding them didn't resolve it. I deleted the entire paycheck wizard and re-created it. The inflated wage problem remained, equal to the combined amount 401k+HSA contributions.

Next, I zeroed both of them in paycheck wizard and ran a validate.
Added the 401k amount, validated and everything was good - I think zeroing cleared up the database for the 401k.👍️
Added the HSA amount, validated and the wage amount remained inflated by only the remaining HSA amounts. 👎️

The question becomes: why does the HSA contribution inflate the wages - after the validation? What am I doing wrong? Is my HSA setup incorrect?

My setup: I added the "HSA Contribution" as a custom category in the income section of the Category List with related tax item of W2:Salary & Wages. In the paycheck wizard, I added the "HSA Contribution" to the Pre-tax Deduction section. It works perfect if I don't run a file validate.

mshiggins

Possibly some interaction with the hidden Tax Impact of 401(k) account?

markus1957

Maybe, but since the actual register entries report correctly and it is only the projection that shows the issue, I'm leaning to a corrupted reminder and/or an issue with the Paycheck Wizard.

Adding- or the validation routine corrupting the reminder

markus1957

Could be both a corrupted reminder (which you fixed) and an issue with the Paycheck reminder (or the way validate is treating the reminder). I'm going to look at my test file to see if I can reproduce the HSA issue.

The HSA entry is a manual add-on. There was an issue with Paychecks that was fixed but they might have broken something else in the process. ADDING- It could be the validation routine did not get changed to accommodate the fix and is making an inappropriate change to the reminder.

I don't see a problem with the way you constructed the Paycheck reminder. A workaround would be to construct a regular income reminder with splits that mimic your paycheck reminder.

I'll get back to you.

markus1957

This is likely a combination of reminder corruption from Quicken updates and validation corruption from not properly incorporating the changes.

Your title for this post should be changed or maybe create a new post to focus on the current issue as you fixed the 401k issue. My suggestion would be -

"File Validation Corrupts a Paycheck Reminder and Causes a Pre-tax Deduction not to Report Properly to Tax Planner". I'd tag it with Bill & Income Reminders and Tax Planner.

If it doesn't corrupt the new file, it may be limited to your current file.

I will look into the Tax Impact of 401(k) account. And I will start with a blank test file and provide updates. Thank you.

One interesting observation so far: When the inflated wage amount appears after a validate, the moment I enter one of the paycheck reminders into the register, the wage amount corrects itself and remains correct - until the next validate!

Reporting back based on extensive testing

In test 1, total wage increased by the combined remaining 401k+HSA amounts
In test 2, total wage increased by the remaining HSA amounts
In test 3, total wage increased by the combined Medical+Dental+Vision amounts (I think purely based on math)!

You must have some history (full current year?) of entered paychecks to see the issue
If the paycheck wizard contains minimal items (Salary, 401k, HSA only), there are no issues (maybe?)
Once the paycheck wizard contains all typical items including all medicals and taxes, the issues comes up
I was not able to figure out which item's presence was the potential culprit
[Tax Impact of 401(k) Accounts] was normal in all cases

My take away: If you encounter this issue, wait until you enter the next paycheck and move on.

Thank you and sorry to have taken you time unnecessarily.