Can I do detail forecast of my 2017 taxes in TurboTax (have complex return & need to make decisions for Q4) or is there another tax planning/forecasting model available?

[vtomr]

Need to make decisions re Q4 charitable donations and Cap Gain and Loss harvesting, including effect on itemized deduction phase-out, NIIT and Alt Min tax.

[SweetieJean]

Be aware that Congress is considering major Federal tax law changes, but we do not know yet if they will be in effect for 2017. Also remember your State taxes.

[Critter · Accepted solution]

Try these tools:

http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/IRS-Withholding-Calculator

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools

http://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/calculators/taxcaster

or .....

THIS IS WHERE THE DOWNLOADED VERSION IS SUPERIOR ...

You CANNOT massage the .tax file in any way when using the TTax On-Line version. ANY changes (what-ifs) that you make will PERMANENTLY change your .tax file.

You have 2 options:

Buy the Desktop version and install it on your computer --you can download the .tax2016 file from your On-Line return and use it to open your Desktop version. (You CANNOT upload the .tax2016 from a Desktop return to work in the 2016 On-Line version.)  The Desktop version CAN do 'What-If' scenarios.

OR

Create a new On-Line account for each 'what-if' that you want to try. In TurboTax Online, you'll have to create a test account separate from your regular TurboTax account and create a test return there. We recommend adding "test" or similar to your User ID so you can easily distinguish it from your actual account.  

If you want to play around with different figures and tax scenarios without affecting your original return you can

In the TurboTax CD/Download software by creating a test copy:

1.  Open your return in TurboTax.

2.  From the File menu, choose Save As.

3.  Give the copy a new name to distinguish it from the original (for example, by adding "Test" or "Example" to the file name).

4. Click  Save. You are now safely working in the test copy and anything you do here will not affect the original.

 https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900642-how-to-make-a-test-copy-of-your-return

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

[vtomr]

Great answer,  I used the What-If tool and really like it.  Setting up a Test file would probably be more exact but would also be more time-consuming to prepare.  THANKS for the help! It simplified my 2017 forecasting and Q4 planning.

[Critter]

Yes, the downloaded program is superior and always available to you year round even after the Online program shuts down for the changeover to the next tax year.