I just did a quick test of the sale of a collectible held long term and entered a small short term loss carryover using the interview, and everything looked correct to me. Perhaps if you disclose all the detail here I could try again and see if I can duplicate the problem.
28% Rate Gain worksheet - - my only entry (made by TT) was a 2500 loss carryover from Sch D. This amount should be entered as a negative number, TT treats it as positive, and carries it to Schedule D line 18c - - per line 7 of the 28% Rate Gain Worksheet, sums less than -0- should be entered as -0-
If you look at the same worksheet on the IRS website, it displays line 5 of the 28% worksheet with ( ) emphasizing that the loss is treated as negative.
I just tried this again and everything worked "as expected." I didn't transfer a carry over from a 2017 file but instead entered it using the "Capital Loss Carryover" interview so maybe somethings messed up in the transfer.
TT just doesn't recognize that when the loss is carried over to the worksheet from Line 15 of Sch D it needs to be treated as a negative. When I go in and override the loss, on the worksheet, entering a negative sign on line 5, all is well (line 7 is zero and carried correctly back to line 18c of Sch D). Not sure what the capital loss carryover interview is - - as far as I can tell, TT for Business doesn't have it - - I am completing a 1041 for a Trust. Thanks for all your effort in researching this issue.
Not an answer but the only way to post pictures.
It always helps to indicate what product you're using. I happen to have "Business" and I'm getting something more in line with what you're reporting.
I agree - the product information (and other more descriptive information, and I hope fewer errors) was included in original question - before I found out there was a 170 character limitation. To get the gist of the question in, I had to keep deleting information. I see now that I can go in and edit the original question, use drop down boxes to indicate product and add additional information, from where I posted the original question - none of this was available.
Comment above meant for TT - - maybe they can increase the number of words/keystrokes allowed.
Tom - - Your screen shots indicate exactly what I am referring to, Line item 5 is filled in directly from Sch. D as a positive, adding the loss to any other items on the list. This incorrect sum is then carried over to Sch. D. Again I was able to correct the error by overriding TT and manually enter a negative sign (something the user should not have to do, the program should correctly recognize the loss as a negative).