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Level 1
November 19, 2020
Question

Can I fill out the 2020 tax return early to get an estimate of how much tax refund may be

  • November 19, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 8 views
Is the 2020 going to be about the same refund amount

2 replies

Critter-3
Level 15
November 19, 2020

The downloaded program is available now with the online program to follow sometime in December.  But they are not fully functional and will not be until late January or for some parts February or March. 

 

If your situation is about the same as last year then you could just wait ... or you can use the taxcaster tool (it is still on 2019 but will give you a close number) http://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/calculators/taxcaster  

 

Buy the personal Desktop CD/Download programs here

https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/cd-download/

 

If you qualify  AND   if you wait until mid January  THEN you can use one of  the IRS FREE FILE options to file a fed & state return for free ... but you must be patient.    https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free

 

IRS Free File: Closed until January 2021

 

IRS Free File is closed for the 2020 tax season. Check back in January for Filing Season 2021 opening details.

For Filing Season 2021, you must make $72,000 or below to use IRS Free File partner offers.

 

November 24, 2020

I just purchased Turbo Tax Premier for 2020 download for Mac from Amazon, like I do every year.  It's still too early as a lot of the forms are not finalized.  The forms for 1099-R, 1099-MISC, Home Mortgage interest are the ones I found missing so, far.  SO, until the those are updated, it's not possible to get any idea of the 2020 taxes.  Just be patient, the updated forms will be applied to TT as soon as Intuit gets them from the IRS.

 

In the meantime, I am going to look at my 2019 return and see if i could possibly use TT Premier 2019 to get a ballpark estimate.

Critter-3
Level 15
November 24, 2020

Using the What If tool in the fully functional 2019 program is the way to do 2020 estimates ... one of the bonuses when using the superior downloaded program ... 

 

This is my mini version of  a tutorial  that should be in the downloaded program: 

 

What is Forms Mode?

Forms Mode lets you view and make changes to your tax forms "behind the scenes."

If you're adventurous, you can even prepare your return in Forms Mode, but we don't recommend it. You may miss obscure credits and deductions you qualify for, and you may forget to report things that will come back and haunt you later.

Forms Mode is exclusively available in the TurboTax CD/Download software. It is not available in TurboTax Online.

                  

Related Information:

                             

If you want to play around with different figures and tax scenarios without affecting your original return you can ….

  • >>>In the TurboTax CD/Download software by creating a test copy
  • 1.  Open your return in TurboTax. 
  • 2.  From the File menu, choose Save As. 
  • 3.  Give the copy a new name to distinguish it from the original (for example, by adding "Test" or "Example" to the file name). 
  • 4. Click  Save. You are now safely working in the test copy and anything you do here will not affect the original. 
  •  https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900642-how-to-make-a-test-copy-of-your-return

           

  • >>  use the WHAT IF tool: 
  • - Click Forms Icon (upper right of screen) or Ctrl 2 (forms view) 
  • - Click on the Open Form Icon 
  • - In the “Type a form name.” area type What-If (with the dash), click on the name of the worksheet - click on Open Form 
  • - You will see the worksheet on the right side of the screen; enter the information right into the form 
  • - To get back to interview mode - click on the Step-by-Step Icon (upper right of screen) or Ctrl 1

 

 

It's always a good idea to make a backup copy of your tax data file, in case your original gets lost or corrupted. Here's how:

  1. From the File menu in the upper-left corner of TurboTax, choose Save As (Windows) or Save (Mac).
  2. Browse to where you want to save your backup.
    • Tip: If you're saving to a portable device, save it to your computer first to prevent data corruption. Then, after completing Step 4, copy or move the backup file to your device.
  3. In the File name field, enter a name that will distinguish it from the original tax file (for example, add "Backup" or "Copy" to the file name)
  4. Click Save and then close TurboTax.
  5. Restart TurboTax and open the backup copy to make sure it's not corrupted. If you get an error, delete the backup and repeat these steps.

If you make changes to your original tax return file, repeat these steps to ensure your original and backup copies are in-synch.

Related Information:                             

 

AND save it as a PDF so you have access to a copy even if you don’t have the program still installed and operational :

AND protect the files :

 

Always remember to shut off the auto update function once you have filed your returns and do not do any updates unless you have safeguarded the PDF & .taxfiles to a removable storage unit for safekeeping.  Click on ONLINE then Update Preferences.... don't be afraid to click on all the  menu headings to find all the goodies that are hiding. 

Level 2
December 17, 2020

Turbo Tax has never really addressed this. Too dangerous playing with prior year files.  They need to set up a "Plan mode" using proforma next year files updated during the year periodically.  ie. we would have had a 2020 tax year "plan" file since April of 2020.  It would start by carrying forward 2019 data and then u would edit it as appropriate.   You would have the option to import this data into the 2020 tax year file after Jan 1, 2021.