topic Re: Update / calculations in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Update / calculations

JLMcNeal54 — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 20:49:22 GMT

Today I planned on submitting my return. On startup the program installed an update. When starting my program, all of a sudden it now shows I OWE nearly $19,000, but when I finished before the update it showed I was due nearly a $6,000 REFUND. This happened without me making any changes to the information entered.

I am VERY LEERY in trusting the software now.

Re: Update / calculations

MonikaK1 — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 22:07:56 GMT

You might try exiting the program and logging back in, or restarting your device in case there is a technical issue affecting your results.

To review the calculations:

Detailed calculation information in TurboTax Online can be found by navigating to Tax Tools > Tools > View Tax Summary > Preview My 1040 to access the Form 1040 Worksheet. This worksheet, specifically the Tax Smart Worksheet located between lines 15 and 16, provides the in-depth, step-by-step calculations for your tax liability.

If you are using the Online version, you will need to have paid for your product in order to see all of the worksheets.

If you are using a Desktop version, you can switch to Forms Mode by clicking on Forms at the top of the screen. There, you can scroll through the complete list of forms and worksheets TurboTax has prepared and click on the one you want to review, or click "Open Form" above the list of forms on the left and enter the one you are looking for.

Re: Update / calculations

JLMcNeal54 — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 01:32:52 GMT

Yea, didn’t work. It comes back saying I owe $32,000 on an adjusted income of under $70,000.
this program isn’t trustworthy anymore, how it can be this far off is beyond me

Re: Update / calculations

MonikaK1 — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 01:39:03 GMT

In order for us to troubleshoot this issue, you can send us a “diagnostic” file that has your “numbers” but not your personal information. If you would like to do this, here are the instructions for TurboTax Desktop users:

From the black bar at the top of your screen, select Online
Click Send Tax File to Agent
Click Send on the message that pops up
TurboTax will create a "sanitized" copy of your return information with no personal info
Post the full token number here in this thread

Here are the instructions for TurboTax Online users:

Go to the black panel on the left side of your program and select Tax Tools.

Then select Tools below Tax Tools.
A window will pop up which says Tools Center.
On this screen, select Share my file with Agent.
You will see a message explaining what the diagnostic copy is. Click okay through this screen and then you will get a Token number.
Reply to this thread with your Token number. This will allow us to open a copy of your return without seeing any personal information.

Please also let us know which version of TurboTax you are using.

We will then be able to review your file to see what you are seeing, and we can determine what is going on in your return and provide you with a suggested resolution.

Re: Update / calculations

mesquitebean — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 01:44:42 GMT

@ JLMcNeal54 wrote:
Yea, didn’t work. It comes back saying I owe $32,000 on an adjusted income of under $70,000.
this program isn’t trustworthy anymore, how it can be this far off is beyond me

No one can see your return here, although a TurboTax Expert can ask for a diagnostic file through your software (personal info would automatically be removed) so they can view it on their end should it come to that. Have you gone into Forms Mode and looked through the actual forms in your return line by line to see if you spot some discrepancy?

Also in Forms Mode look at the Form 1040 Worksheet. Between lines 15 and 16 of that Worksheet, there is a Tax Smart Worksheet that reveals the method or methods that TurboTax is using to calculate your tax.

Re: Update / calculations

mesquitebean — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 01:42:51 GMT

Oops! Looks like @MonikaK1 and I were typing an answer at the same time. At least we were on the same wavelength. 😁

Re: Update / calculations

JLMcNeal54 — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 21:31:11 GMT

Going through the inputs, the update changed the subsections to items 12a, b & c to what I assume is the default in the software. Changing them back to C, D & DD fixed the issue