How do I get the "what-If" worksheet?

[MichelleT]

Did you look through your forms, upper right?

[VolvoGirl · Accepted solution]

I know it can be hard to find.  But I think it's in the same place as before.

If you have the Desktop program you can do a What-If worksheet.  
Go to Forms Mode, click Forms in the upper right or on the left for Mac. Then click Open Forms box in the top of the column on the left. Open the US listing of forms and towards the bottom find the What-if worksheet. It's right under Estimated Taxes.  

Or try…Go into Forms View. Once there, at the top of the left column, click on the icon for "Open Form". A popup window will appear. In the text line, type the word "what" without quotes. You should see "what-if worksheet" appear as a selection choice. Double-click it to launch the form.

[benjwhite9]

Is the "what-if" worksheet available with the TurboTax online product?

[macuser_22]

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@benjwhite9 wrote:

Is the "what-if" worksheet available with the TurboTax online product?

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No.   CD/download products only.

[jmeysemb]

The "What If" feature is still available in the forms section if you search for it using that name.  I used it last night.

[bettypaystaxes]

There is one big problem with the what-if worksheet (I have tried it several times over the years and get the same result). 

The worksheet takes interest earned, dividends, and capital gains and just splits them in half, no matter who the income is assigned to. This makes it useless unless all of your income is earned.

Am I missing something? 

[macuser_22]

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@bettypaystaxes wrote:

There is one big problem with the what-if worksheet (I have tried it several times over the years and get the same result). 

The worksheet takes interest earned, dividends, and capital gains and just splits them in half, no matter who the income is assigned to. This makes it useless unless all of your income is earned.

Am I missing something? 

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Are you trying married filing separately?     The whatif is very simplistic.     MFS has too many variables for anything but a simply splitting.   It is a very rough estimate.

[bettypaystaxes]

Yes, I am testing Married Filing Separately.  I am surprised that TT cannot split the unearned income properly, as the program specifically asks whom the income is assigned to. What is that used for, if not a determination of MFJ vs MFS?  

To say it is a "rough estimate" is generous. It is flat-out wrong. Hopefully, TT can fix this in the future. It would be very helpful  

Thanks for the reply. 

[tphtph]

Thanks, Volvo.   Been looking for that for years!

[macuser_22]

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@bettypaystaxes wrote:

Yes, I am testing Married Filing Separately.  I am surprised that TT cannot split the unearned income properly, as the program specifically asks whom the income is assigned to. What is that used for, if not a determination of MFJ vs MFS?  

To say it is a "rough estimate" is generous. It is flat-out wrong. Hopefully, TT can fix this in the future. It would be very helpful  

Thanks for the reply. 

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The "whatif" is only in the desktop versions and has not changed or been updated in years.   I doubt that will ever update it since they now have "TaxCaster" with is much or robust.

https://internettaxconnection.com/turbotax-taxcaster-calculator/

[yimtland]

I found and have used the "what-if" worksheet for my Federal Tax modeling.  Is there a similar form in TurboTax Desktop for modeling my State Tax return?  Thank you in advance.

[DoninGA]

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@yimtland wrote:

I found and have used the "what-if" worksheet for my Federal Tax modeling.  Is there a similar form in TurboTax Desktop for modeling my State Tax return?  Thank you in advance.

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TurboTax does not have a what-if worksheet for state tax returns, only federal.

[Plugger1]

Funny thing is, when I log in, I don't even see a forms option.   

Post a link otherwise it'll never be found.

This type of tool is beneficial in tax planning, not actual tax preparation.

AND yes, I am a paying customer for the last 5+ years. 

Surely my log in should grant me access to this.  (If not, why not ?)

Please clarify.

[DoninGA]

@Plugger1 If you are using the TurboTax online web-based editions there is not a Forms link.

Only the TurboTax desktop editions installed on a personal computer, Windows or Mac, will have a Forms link where you have direct access the various forms and worksheets.

If you are using the TurboTax desktop editions for Windows the Forms icon is clearly shown in the upper right of the desktop program screen.