Ease of Use

[Ladydiane7]

I am finding Turbotax becoming more and more confusing to use with blocks requiring information that it doesn't explain what the options are.  For example, on 1040ME, line 30, it asked for Sales Tax (use Sales Tax).  Don't have the slightest idea what I was supposed to put there.  I finally entered 0!  Don't know whether that was right or wrong.

[DanielV01]

You can thank taxing authorities for making forms more complicated to understand.  Use Tax is similar to Sales Tax.  If you purchased any items that were not charged Maine Sales Tax, (such as internet orders, for example), then you should put the amount of those purchases in that box.  While 0 should pass, if it does not, then leave the box blank if you did not have any such purchases in the year.

[Ladydiane7]

I ran into problems because it is so much more complicated.  I have difficulty understand what some of the deductions are allowed.  For example, if I could claim investment losses.  Also it is next to impossible to get a phone number for TurboTax representatives.  It should be on the software package.  I spent quite a while on the internet finally finding a number to reach someone.  Often you are directed to an unrelated agency that charges for assistance.  I actually thought that was what TurboTax was for.

[fanfare]

refer to the IRS

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf

for information on how your tax return works.

[VolvoGirl]

Have you been posting your questions in this forum?   We can help.  Yes you can deduct investment losses - after you offset any gains you can deduct up to a max of 3,000 against all your other income.  If you have more loss you have to carryover the rest to the next year.

Do not call numbers you find on the internet.  Most are probably scams or will charge you a lot.  There's only one way to get official Turbo Tax support (besides this user forum)

Contact Customer Service
5am-9pm Pacific Time
7 days a week
https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact/

What is the Turbo Tax phone number
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number/00/25632

[etdavis]

There are some difficult areas, but this assures accuracy and  security

[LindaS5247]

The instructions for Line 30 for the 1040ME are below.  It is for items purchased for use in Maine from retailers who did not collect Maine sales tax.  I think $0 is probably fine!

Line 30. If you purchased items for use in Maine from retailers who did
not collect the Maine sales tax (such as businesses in other states or
countries and unregistered mail order and internet sellers), you may owe
Maine use tax on those items. 

The tax rate for purchases in 2021 is
5.5%. If you paid another state’s sales or use tax on any purchase, that
amount may be credited against the Maine use tax due on that purchase.
If you do not know the exact amount of Maine use tax that you owe,
multiply your Maine adjusted gross income from line 16 by .04% (.0004).
 

Note: For items that cost $1,000 or more, you must add the tax on those
items to the percentage amount. Use tax on items that cost more than
$5,000 must be reported on an individual use tax return by the 15th
day of the month following its purchase.

 For additional information, visit
www.maine.gov/revenue/taxes/sales-use-service-provider-tax or call (207) 624-9693.

Click here for 1040E Instructions.  See page 5.