Why do i have to re-enter same data each time a visit a section?

[dcanaday]

In some places in TurboTax, when I want to revisit a section, I have to re-answer the same questions each time.  Good God why?  It is so annoying.  If I've already supplied an answer, can't you just leave the answer there when I re-visit it.  That way, I can see the answer I provided earlier.  If I need to change it, I'll change it.  

The best example is when I revisit my rental properties.  Each time I do, I'm asked to answer the same question again and again.  I have to visit this site a lot and it gets really tiresome.

[DavidS127]

Some facts represent critical “dividing points” in how your tax return is prepared.  Your choices at these dividing points determine the screens, forms, and calculations TurboTax will use to prepare your tax return.  For these critical dividing points, TurboTax does not “save” your answer. Instead, you are asked to “re-affirm” these critical facts each time you re-visit those interview questions.

The question you flagged, about whether you are a real estate professional, determines whether or not your rental activity is treated as a passive activity.  TurboTax believes that given the importance of that particular fact, affirming the answer each time is worth the inconvenience.

Another example is when you are asked if you “materially participate” in a business for which you received a Schedule K-1.  Unless you materially participate in that business, the activity is treated as “passive” and losses can only be deducted to the extent you have passive income.  So, TurboTax requires you to “yes or no” every time the interview question is encountered.

[Edited 6/25/2020|1:24pm PST]

[fanfare]

try to get it right the second (or third) time and you won't have to be revisiting.

Are you hitting "I'll choose what I work on"  ?

[fanfare]

the CD/download version is far less tedious than the Online version.