Estimated Tax Payment Fields are Locked What's happening?

[sbwinter]

I get to the estimated federal tax page, but the amount fields are locked and will not let me enter a number. Date fields allow new dates. (I did pay estimated taxes in 2019.)

Steve

[SteamTrain]

I suspect it is the following...at least for a WINDOWS computer:

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Whenever you see a "$0"  (an actual zero, and only when using the desktop software ), and not justt a simple "4"...a "Supporting Details" sheet is attached to that entry, usually transferred in from last year, but after the actual $$ entries were stripped out.

Problem is that TTX reprogrammed that page such that the "Supporting Details" page doesn't pop up like it used to...so several ways to work around  it until they get it fixed (if ever).

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Here's what I think is happening  (#1,2,3 below)...and how to fix it (#4 below).

1)  In 2018 you added "Supporting Details" to each of those fields where you encounter a locked "$0"...probably to describe  when & how paid it in some prior year.

2)  The Supporting Details sheets (empty) transferred into your 2019 file from your 2018 file.

3)  The Supporting Details are supposed to pop up as soon as you attempt to enter a value during the Interview...but it doesn't.  (Software Bug)

4) Workarounds  : 

4a)  double-click in the field and the Supporting Details sheet pops up and you can either delete it (hit the big red "X"), and now make an entry...or you can use the SuppDetails worksheet to enter your $$....OR...

4b)   Put your cursor in the box, and then go to the top menu on the screen and click on <Edit....then <<Add Supporting Details from the drop-down menu.  IF the SuppDet box shows up you can either add your entry in there...or hit the Red "X" to delete the whole SupDet worksheet and then make your normal entry.....or...

4c)  Put your cursor on the box....switch to Forms Mode...., and enter the payment  directly in the worksheet.   You can also delete the Supporting Details sheet entirely (look for the REMOVE "X" when it pops up)..once that is done, you can make entries using the interview again..

(been reported too, but might take weeks to fix...or never since we've heard nothing yet)

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and there are other places ..like Medical Expenses, and Property Taxes...where the same "$0" issue "might" pop up....but only if you used Supporting Details in the past