"What if" is a feature of the desktop download software. If you are using online TurboTax you do not have forms mode or "what if."
If you are using desktop software:
Or use the WHAT IF tool:
- Click Forms Icon (upper right of screen) or Ctrl 2 (forms view)
- Click on the Open Form Icon
- In the “Type a form name.” area type What-If (with the dash), click on the name of the worksheet - click on Open Form
- You will see the worksheet on the right side of the screen; enter the information right into the form
- To get back to interview mode - click on the Step-by-Step Icon (upper right of screen) or Ctrl 1
The What-If worksheet is only available when using the TurboTax desktop editions.
Click on Forms
When in Forms mode click Open Form at the top left of the screen. Type in what-if. Click on the result to access the worksheet.
I can find the form just fine. What is totally unclear is how to populate the form using the Easy Step system.
In my case, I got married last year and my wife and I want to compare MFS vs. MFJ. Even if we file jointly, we want to know our relative shares of taxes and/or refunds. How do we enter all of our tax-related information using the step-by-step approach so that it applies to each of us individually, which would be necessary to populate the What-If form?
Once you enter all your income/deduction items in your MFJ return, open the What-If worksheet in Forms mode, and check the box at the top to compare MFJ with MFS. The columns will automatically fill in for you.