Using TT 2022 to estimate my 2023 taxes. Difference between tax refund/due and 1040 form

[nwnittany49]

I typically use the previous year TurboTax to estimate my current year taxes. I have done this for several years and it has worked well except for years of substantial tax law changes. This year I find that TurboTax 2022 shows a different number under the main field that shows Owed/Refund at the top of the screen and the final amount at the bottom of the 1040 form. The main field shows that I owe about $4,000 while the 1040 show that I have $1,700 as a refund. I have never seen this before.

[VolvoGirl]

Are you using the Online version or the Desktop program?  How are you using 2022 to estimate 2023?   If you started by saying to amend 2022 that could cause  the difference.

[Critter-3]

Stop messing with your originally filed return by making changes ... remove the changes so the return reflects the way it was originally filed before you leave.

Right now ... for the "what if" scenario ... stop looking at the refund meter   and instead look at the new form 1040 for the 2023 estimated return ... click on tools then print center to get a new PDF.

[nwnittany49]

I am using the desktop version. I made a copy of my original return and modified for 2023. The 1040 form does look correct. I just use this for doing my quarterly estimated taxes. I had no issues doing this in past years except when tax laws changed.

[NCperson]

@nwnittany49 using 2022 to estimate 2023 is going to overstate your tax liability - and there were substaintail adjustments going into 2023 because of inflation (which means you could potentially over pay the quarterly estimates)

I use this website to estimate 2023 - it is quite accurate for 2023. 

https://www.dinkytown.net/java/1040-tax-calculator.html