How does TurboTax determine line 35a on 2020 Form1040-SR?

[red rider]

Line 34 and line 35a are different yet I did not directly specify either one.

[VolvoGirl]

Those are both calculated amounts.  Is 35a less than 34?  Is the difference on line 38 for a penalty?

I had a refund once and still had a penalty for not paying in evenly during the year.

[Hal_Al · Accepted solution]

Usually the difference between line 34 and line 35a is shown on line 36.

In the TurboTax (TT) interview, you told TT how much to put on line 36. 

To change it,  In TT, enter at:

 Federal Taxes  (Personal in  H&B version)

Other Tax Situations

 Additional Tax Payments

   Apply refund to next year

[red rider]

Thanks for your response. My line 36 is blank.  I also could not find any calculation worksheet in TurboTax to account for the difference between line 34 and line 35a.  Line 34 is a little bigger ($33).

[red rider]

Thanks for your reply.  The difference between line 34 and 35a is only $33 but it makes no sense to me.  I could not find any calculation worksheet in TurboTax which described how it came up with the reduced amount on line 35a.

Your estimated taxes was a good idea but my line 38 (Estimated Tax penalty) is blank. I did pay estimated taxes in the fourth quarter of 2020 for a financial transaction (Roth conversion) in December, 2020 and they were filed before Jan. 15, 2021.  

[red rider]

I went back to look at Other Tax Situation and looked at Underpayment Penalties and lo and behold, apply refund to next year was checked.  However, when I try to change it to Give me the full refund, it doesn't let me make that change.  When I come back to that selection, the apply refund to next year is still checked even though I changed my selection.   

The other question that comes to mind is how much of the refund does TurboTax calculate to be withheld and applied to next year?

[VolvoGirl]

Turbo Tax doesn't calculate that.  You had to tell it an amount to apply to next year.  That still doesn't sound right.  Look here...

To change the entry you made to apply your  Federal refund to next year

Federal Taxes Tab or Personal (H&B version)

Other Tax Situations

Additional Tax Payments

Apply Refund to Next Year - Click the Start or Update button and answer NO or delete the amount.

[Hal_Al]

Change the amount in that box to 0.

[Critter-3]

Turbotax does NOT calculate how much to apply to the next tax year ... that is a user entry only ... go back to that section to review and correct the amount being applied.  

[red rider]

It looks like they are charging me an estimated tax penalty and have to file a Form 2210 to contests it.  May not be worth the trouble for $33.

[cirithungol]

I want to tell TurboTax to put zero in1040 box 35a. How do I get to the place where I can do that?

[DoninGA]

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@cirithungol wrote:

I want to tell TurboTax to put zero in1040 box 35a. How do I get to the place where I can do that?

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What do you want to do?

Apply the 2021 tax refund to next year's taxes?

Use Form 8888?

[VolvoGirl]

You want to apply all your refund to 2022 as an estimated payment?

To apply your federal refund to next year, enter it under

Federal Taxes Tab or Personal (Home & Business)

Other Tax Situations

Additional Tax Payments

Apply Refund to Next Year - Click the Start or Update button