I'm trying to use turbotax to plan for TY2019, but when it tried to download my state info it says it will be unavailable until january

[Fahngieb]

My state taxes will be an important factor in my tax liability for TY2019, and I have some options for how to affect that situation until the end of this month. I bought turbotax so that I could do my taxes now, and then figure out how certain choices regarding selling/buying stocks would change how much tax I owe.

When the software tried to download the info for my state, it reported that the data required wouldn't be available until january. Of course, nothing I do after january (except IRA I guess) can change my tax situation, so this is less than helpful.

Is this availability date accurate? Is there a pre-release or something like that? Is my only other option to work on my state taxes by hand? If I do that I'm afraid I'll make a mistake and get the wrong impression of what I'll owe for 2019.

Thanks for any help anyone can give.

[Critter]

To estimate the 2019 taxes you need to use the fully operational 2018 program not the under construction 2019 one ... this is the same every tax year ... 

This is my mini version of  a tutorial  that should be in the downloaded program: 

What is Forms Mode?

Forms Mode lets you view and make changes to your tax forms "behind the scenes."

If you're adventurous, you can even prepare your return in Forms Mode, but we don't recommend it. You may miss obscure credits and deductions you qualify for, and you may forget to report things that will come back and haunt you later.

Forms Mode is exclusively available in the TurboTax CD/Download software. It is not available in TurboTax Online.

Related Information:

• Why would I use Forms Mode?
• How do I switch to Forms Mode in the TurboTax for Windows software?
• How do I switch to Forms Mode in the TurboTax for Mac software?

If you want to play around with different figures and tax scenarios without affecting your original return you can ….

• >>>In the TurboTax CD/Download software by creating a test copy: 
•  Open your return in TurboTax. 
•  From the File menu, choose Save As. 
•  Give the copy a new name to distinguish it from the original (for example, by adding "Test" or "Example" to the file name). 
• Click  Save. You are now safely working in the test copy and anything you do here will not affect the original. 
• https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900642-how-to-make-a-test-copy-of-your-return

• >> use the WHAT IF tool: 
• - Click Forms Icon (upper right of screen) or Ctrl 2 (forms view) 
• - Click on the Open Form Icon 
• - In the “Type a form name.” area type What-If (with the dash), click on the name of the worksheet - click on Open Form 
• - You will see the worksheet on the right side of the screen; enter the information right into the form 
• - To get back to interview mode - click on the Step-by-Step Icon (upper right of screen) or Ctrl 1

It's always a good idea to make a backup copy of your tax data file, in case your original gets lost or corrupted. Here's how:

1. From the File menu in the upper-left corner of TurboTax, choose Save As (Windows) or Save (Mac).
2. Browse to where you want to save your backup.
   • Tip:If you're saving to a portable device, save it to your computer first to prevent data corruption. Then, after completing Step 4, copy or move the backup file to your device.
3. In the File name field, enter a name that will distinguish it from the original tax file (for example, add "Backup" or "Copy" to the file name)
4. Click Save and then close TurboTax.
5. Restart TurboTax and open the backup copy to make sure it's not corrupted. If you get an error, delete the backup and repeat these steps.

If you make changes to your original tax return file, repeat these steps to ensure your original and backup copies are in-synch.

Related Information:                             

• Retrieve a Tax File from a Portable Device
• What's the difference between the tax data file and the PDF file?

AND save it as a PDF so you have access to a copy even if you don’t have the program still installed and operational :

• How do I save my return as a PDF in the TurboTax software for Windows?
• How do I save my return as a PDF in the TurboTax software for Mac?

AND protect the files :

• How can I protect the tax files on my computer?

[Fahngieb]

Thanks for the tip. Can you explain why I should use the 2018 version? I bought turbotax 2019 just this week for doing my 2019 taxes, but are you really saying I should also buy turbotax 2018 in order to estimate my 2019 taxes?

How would I tell the 2018 software to go into "2019" mode?

Or am I estimating my 2019 taxes "as if none of the tax laws changed from 2018"? Does that mean the estimation will be off in so far as the tax policies change?

Thanks again.

[VolvoGirl]

The 2018 program has a What-If worksheet that I think has the 2019 Tax info like brackets, etc.   Did you use Turbo Tax to do 2018?  You can download the .tax2018 file from online to open in the Desktop program.

[Critter]

@Fahngieb 

If you do not have the 2018 downloaded program already you can get it now  but you would have to have the .tax2018 file to populate the return so you can use the What If Tool as suggested in my other answer.   The what if tool does take into consideration the 2019 rules when you choose to what if the 2019 return ... you always need to use the prior year fully operational program since the current year program is never really fully operational until the following year so for estimating before the end of the year it is really useless especially for the state returns.   

[SteamTrain]

@Fahngieb 

You should note, that if you go this route (using the 2018 software)  The What-IF sheet only predicts teh Federal taxes.

To guess at your state taxes, you would have to actually fill in a full 2018 Federal and state set using 2019 data "AS-IF" it was made/earned/distributed in 2018.....or open your 2018 datafile and change the values (could be easier), and then the full tax forms result would be using 2018 settings an limits,  and you would have to assume that both the Fed and State rules will be similar for 2019.  Federal is pretty close to the same for most things....states may vary as to how much they have changed from 2018-to-2019.

Whether the ~$80 for a Deluxe desktop download is worth it is up to you.  Be very careful in buying Deluxe from anyone except directly from the TTX store....Desktop Deluxe comes in versions both with, and without one free state download.  TTX only sells it with the free state.  IF buying elsewhere, make sure it is only one of the major US Stores, Best Buy, Staples, etc....Amazon is great for downloads, but if using an Amazon download, make sure it is from their Download services section and not some off-amazon 3rd party.