Retirement tax questions

I appreciate the replies.  But clearly some people are not reading my original question/or reading into them.  

 

"For example, entering a Roth IRA contribution before you enter your compensation would certainly result in TurboTax seeing the contribution as an excess contribution."   I follow TT directions and flow. I do not "jump" around. 

 

I also said that this has been seen in previous years taxes with TT.  (Past behavior)   I'm not sure this is helping me because we are getting into the weeds here:  "and the compensation was not excluded foreign earned income"  I mentioned nothing of FEI.

 

I do see that the statement that:  "Also, the refund/balance due calculation is relatively meaningless until you've completed all entries for your tax return."  may be relevant.  Maybe I should just continue with the return and before actually submitting;  see what the tax owed/due is?  Although I think I tried that at least once.

 

Thanks.

 

Any other ideas?