Turbo Tax doesn't calculate tax correctly

[annoyed_user]

Correction to prior post:

According to the Instructions for Form 1040, the tax burden (line 16) is based on a formula applied to taxable income (line 15).  For my filing status and income (requiring the formula versus the look-up table) the tax burden computed by Turbo Tax is over $700 less than the amount the formula yields.  In checking last years return, the Turbo Tax computation was over $500 less.  It's simple math.  What gives?

[VolvoGirl · Accepted solution]

It is not simple.  There are like 7 different ways to figure the tax depending on the kind of income.

If you have capital gains or qualified dividends the tax is not taken from the tax table but is calculated separately from schedule D.  The tax will be calculated on the Qualified Dividends and Capital Gain Tax Worksheet.  It does not get filed with your return.  In the online version you need to save your return as a pdf file and include all worksheets to see it.

For the Desktop version you can switch to Forms Mode and open the worksheet to see it.  Click Forms in the upper right (upper left for Mac) and look through the list and open the Qualified Dividends and Capital Gain Tax Worksheet.