If the 1099-DIV has a box 6 foreign tax then you should enter the portion of box 1 that generated the foreign tax. Often that will be the box 1 amount if all the foreign tax came from the same source but in the case of some mutual funds only a portion of box 1 will be what generated the foreign tax. Most brokers list the foreign tax and the source of that tax somewhere in the composite statements that they send.
That question should have been asked at the end the of the 1099-DIV interview but it does not until the error check finds the missing information. After entering it in the error check, you can return to the 1099-DIV interview to see the missing screen and go to the 1116 interview to claim the credit.
Entering a zero might satisfy the error, but a zero will not allow you to get a credit for the foreign tax paid in the form 1116 interview that either makes it a Schedule A deduction or a tax credit on the 1040 form line 48.
**Disclaimer: This post is for discussion purposes only and is NOT tax advice. The author takes no responsibility for the accuracy of any information in this post.**
