I appreciate your response. I think it may have helped to read a tad more closely. I already did the federal part just fine following the steps you posted for me. Software worked beautifully for Federal 1040. The 540 section however is the issue. Nowhere in the CA 540 does it ask about 1099-MISC. It automatically reads from Federal 1040 and imports my LAWSUIT earnings as SELF EMPLOYED BUSINESS earnings which is why I can't complete the EIC 2019 despite myself qualifying. I try to remove the auto-generated 3514 to ignore my credit given the bug in the software. I switched to forms>then 3514>then delete form. The software automatically regenerates the form when I go to the mail in return section. I literally watch the green refund numbers change as I go to print return for records and filing.
There is no where for me to report bugs in the software so I'm on here trying to get my return done in such a way I won't be audited. It's not worth the 40$ to me to run that risk, and I'd prefer to use the software I paid (ironically) $40 for at Costco.
