March - April 2022
TurboTax Home & Business for Year 2021
by Howard Berenbon
Over at least a decade, I’ve used TurboTax to calculate and file my income tax returns for several reasons. First of all, it works for me, and takes away the yearly stress of having to sit down and tackle the forms; and it’s been very simple to use, and has never failed me. I choose their step-by-step entry, but to be safe, periodically I check the forms view, and double check before I eFile. I’ve always finished my taxes on time, mostly without errors, and have not required an extension. Not that my taxes are simple. I ran an online business, and the forms are more complex, but I’ve never had problems after filing, online or via snail mail. In fact, I can usually finish my taxes in just one day, if I have all the information ready. In the past, pre-TurboTax, it would take me up to two weeks before I was ready to mail in the forms, and of course, they were hand written. And every year TurboTax has improved their data entry, and if you have questions, help is available within the software: while you’re answering a specific question, from their help menu or even from the TurboTax community and Intuit. Of course, if you’re familiar with TurboTax, the greatest feature, at least for me, is allowing easy electronic filing, and I bet the IRS loves that too. Now, I’ve said my piece, so let’s get into the details of TurboTax Home & Business for 2021 taxes. And let’s start with data entry.
Data Entry
To start, I found that the data entry screens for TurboTax are identical to last year, with the same data entry format. It makes sense to keep what’s been working well. That said, I’ll list the details. If you used TurboTax last year, or in previous years, and your past TurboTax files are on your computer, TurboTax can update your information, and use that data as a guide to the current year. It will collect all previous forms and you’ll enter your data via those forms, but if you have more 1099s, like new resources for interest and dividends, or another W-2, you can add them as you go along. And, a nice feature, it displays the past year as a comparison.
If you’re new to TurboTax, you’ll need to enter all required personal information before you begin (name, address, date of birth, social security number, dependents, etc.), and the software key to begin. You can start entering data using their step-by-step entry approach or pick what you want from sections within specific categories, starting with personal information. You may also enter data directly into the forms, but it’s best to let TurboTax populate those forms. They’re the experts!
If you choose the step-by-step method, you have the option of letting TurboTax take you through all the entries, or you can choose what to enter from the sections within the categories. Also, you have the option to file an extension to delay submitting your return, and file an amended return if required because you received tax information late or you found an error.
In Home & Business, they’ll ask you questions about your business income and expenses. Next, you’ll go into the Personal section were you work through your Personal Income, Deductions & Credits, Health Insurance, Other Tax Situation, Federal Review and Smart Check (for errors). Since Home & Business includes a state return, you can go on to your state, or save your return and take a break. TurboTax will automatically save your return at times, but I save my return usually before TurboTax does, just to play it safe.
When you’re done entering each section, TurboTax will bring you back to the beginning so that you can revisit your entries and make corrections or additions, or just go on to the next section. And every pertinent question will be asked, with options to go further within the topic, if the information is required.
Minor Error Found
After you’re done with all your entries, TurboTax will perform a Smart Check for errors. During the Smart Check, it found an error. Actually, this was definitely a software “bug.” It displayed Form 8812, “Credits for Qualifying Children & Other Dependents” and requiring Advanced Payments entry. However, we don’t have dependents; our kids are independent adults. I searched using the TurboTax Help feature and it found that this error was reported in February and should have been corrected. Initially, the only way to fix the error was to enter a “0” in the form, but it was still listed under forms menu. It was definitely a bug, because when entering our personal information, I clicked “no” to dependents. But, miraculously, I fixed it by going back to the personal section and re-entering all the questions including a “no” under the dependents question. Then I restarted the Smart Check and it found no errors, thank goodness, and form 8812 disappeared.
When you’re done entering your income and expenses with the maximum deductions allowed, and no errors are found, you’re ready to file. TurboTax allows you to eFile your Federal return for free, and the state returns cost $25. This year I chose to eFile both my Federal and state returns, but you may want to mail in your state return to save the $25. For me, it’s more convenient to eFile, with the advantage of knowing your forms have been filed, and accepted. In fact, after eFiling my Federal return, I was e-mailed its acceptance just an hour later, and the state return was accepted the next day, so no more concerns that the forms didn’t make through the US postal system. Before, or after you eFile, you can print a complete copy your records with or without worksheets, and save them as PDF files.
TurboTax Home & Business 2021 Disc includes 5 free Federal eFiles and one state download. If you need another state, it’s $45, which seems a bit steep, but it is what it is. Of course to add the state, you’ll order via credit card through TurboTax. For more information, or to order, visit Amazon.com. It currently costs around $80 from various Intuit suppliers, but Amazon is the way I like to go because covid-19 is still around, and I’d rather not venture into nearby retailers like Best Buy, Target or Costco.
HB
Casinos in Space
I'm using Character Animator to narrate my science fiction novel, Casinos in Space, I published on Amazon a few years ago. I use Microsoft One Note to convert the text, from each chapter, to audio, and then I upload it on Youtube with the narration using one of the puppets. Here's my latest:
For more information, and a free trial of Adobe Creative Cloud visit:
Download Character Animator: https://www.adobe.com/products/charac... Get free puppets: http://adobe.com/go/chexamples (official adobe puppets) /
Don't forget to check out some of the creative templates, and Dave Werner's neat creations. And Dave is availble for help if you need it. http://okaysamurai.com/puppets/ (okay samurai puppet pack)
HB
Please check out my latest UFOs R Us podcast:
UFOs R Us Podcast now on Anchor at http://anchor.fm/howard-berenbon
William Shatner/Captain Kirk Blasts into Space with Amazon's Blue Origin - Episode 8
Please stayed tuned for more of the latest UAP news via my YouTube channel, Cyber Times LLC and on my Anchor podcast, Anchor.fm/Howard-Berenbon.
Click below to subscribe to my UFOs R Us Podcast
UFOs R Us Podcast now on Anchor at http://anchor.fm/howard-berenbon
To watch my podcasts on Youtube at Crazy Tech, please visit
https://youtube.com/CyberTimesLLC
HB
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you like Cyber News & Reviews, please Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter or link to us from your site.
@HBerenbon
Link to us with the following code:
HTML
>
Navigation:
[Home][About Us][Archives][Contact][Kid's TV-Big Comfy Couch][Fix a Scratched LCD Display][Privacy Policy]
Interview at the Internet Advisor WJR 760am Detroit
I was interviewed by Gary Baker on the Internet Advisor show on News/Talk 760 am (a major station in the Detroit area). The podcast is online at https://internetadvisor.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Podcast-1441-Oct.-11-2014.mp3
Visit our Sponsor Page
Find-Me-Online.net
Find & Delete Your Online Personal/Private Information
