Go back and re-enter all of your 1099 DIVs with foreign tax withholding and when the dialogue asks which country just chose a single country. Germany, France, Switzerland and Canada have the highest withholding tax rates, so one of them is likely a good choice. Do NOT enter "various". Then just go through the dialogue. Separately, add up all taxes and all dividends from which taxes withheld and all foreign dividends from which no taxes were withheld. When you go into the credit section you will need the tax withholding information to see if it comes out right.
When you do the foreign tax credit process ( in Deductions and Dividends listed under the subheading Estimates and Other Taxes and then scroll down to "foreign taxes". Run through that dialogue by chosing to take the credit and it should all be automatic if you entered the 1099 DIV as above. Go through the dialogue BUT DO NOT try to review your 1099 DIV entries in the credit dialogue section entries or you will have to start all over again. Just go through the dialogue and then finish up and the credit should then appear in the main list of Deductions and Credits under the subheading Estimates and Other Taxes paid select "foreign taxes" from the list and there you should find a total that will approximate your spread sheet total. When you do the review there be a half dozen more question that come up, such as your total foreign income
( computed on the spread sheet above ), your tax basis for all foreign income producing assets and your tax basis for all income producing assets.
This section of the Code is a nightmare, but if you have a large credit it is worth a hell of lot more than the deduction so it is worth the effort.
