Once you have completed your tax return, the TurboTax program has a built-in error checking feature that searches and displays any errors that are found in your return. Error checking makes sure that you enter all of your tax data correctly into your tax return before you print or e-file your return.

• How to check your FEDERAL tax return
• How to check your STATE tax return
• How to check your tax return using the FORMS method
• What if I still can't fix the error in my tax return?

If you're using TurboTax desktop, it's important to update TurboTax before running the TurboTax Error Check. Also, if you've made any changes to your tax return after running Error Check, we strongly recommend that you run the feature again.

Product(s):

• TurboTax desktop
• TurboTax Online

1. Open your tax return in the TurboTax program.
2. Click the Federal Review tab, and then click the Error Check button at the top.

3. In the Ready for Federal Review screen, click the Continue button to start the error check.
4. If your tax return has errors, the program displays an Error Check Results screen that shows you how many errors were found in your tax return.
5. Click the Fix Errors button to start correcting the errors in your tax return. The TurboTax Interview takes you step-by-step through each error in your tax return.
6. In the You Must Fix This Error Interview screen, enter the correct or missing information, then click the Continue button to go to the next error.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions to continue manually fixing all the errors that the TurboTax error check found in your tax return.
8. Once you've fixed all the errors in your return, the TurboTax Interview displays a Congratulations! message indicating that your federal tax return contains no errors.

Tip: If you have an error such as an unneeded form, try deleting the form or worksheet out of your return. After you've removed the unnecessary form, repeat the steps above for the error check process.

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Product(s):

• TurboTax Desktop

1. Open your tax return in the TurboTax program.
2. Click the State Taxes tab, then select your [state name] at the top.
3. In the Ready for State Review screen, click the Continue button to start the error check.
4. If your tax return has an error, the TurboTax program displays a You Must Fix This Error Interview screen.
5. Enter the correct or missing information, then click the Continue button to go to the next error. The TurboTax Interview takes you step-by-step through each error in your state tax return.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to continue manually fixing any errors that the TurboTax error check found in your tax return.
7. Once you've fixed all the errors in your return, the TurboTax Interview displays an Error Check Complete screen indicating that your state tax return contains no errors.

Product(s):

• TurboTax Online

1. Open your tax return.
2. Click the State Taxes tab, then click Your State Returns
3. In the Your State Returns screen, click Edit Return or Continue Return for the state that you want to error-check.

4. Click the State Review button at the top of your screen.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to fix any errors that the error check feature finds in your tax return.

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Product(s):

• TurboTax desktop

If you're an intermediate TurboTax user, you may want to try checking your income tax return using the forms method. Using this method enables you to search and correct an error on a individual tax form or worksheet in your tax return in more depth.

1. Go to Forms menu and then open the tax form or worksheet in your tax return that you want to check e.g. Form 8889-T. If you are already in TurboTax Interview while you are checking for errors, click the Go to Forms button.
2. When the form opens, click the Form Errors button at the top. The TurboTax software starts checking your tax return.

3. In the Form Errors window, you'll see a list of errors that the program found. Use your left mouse button to select an error. The TurboTax program jumps to the precise location on the form where the error occurred.

4. Correct the error as described in the error description. To learn more detail about the line on the form where the error occurred, right-click in the field to open a drop-down menu, then select About Line [line number].

5. TurboTax opens Tax Help that describes in detail the purpose of the form that you are working on and a description of each line on the tax form. You'll also find instructions about what you need to enter on the line where the error occurred if applicable.

6. Repeat Steps 3 through 5 until you've fixed all the errors in the tax form. Once you've corrected all the errors, the TurboTax program displays a "There are no errors in your return" message at the top.
7. Click the Close button to close the Form Errors window at the top of the form.
8. Close the form to return to the TurboTax Interview.
9. In the TurboTax Interview, run the error check again before you print or e-file your tax return(s) to verify that you've fixed all the errors in your return.

Tip: If you want to learn more about a specific error you are experiencing, type the error code or some keywords in the Search box at the right, and then click Search. For example, to find out about error 9111, type "9111" in the Search box.

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If you think you have a tax-related issue in your return, it may be a good idea to have a tax expert review your tax return. TurboTax Professional Tax Review is a service available to you within the TurboTax program that allows you to ask questions or express concerns to a tax professional about your tax return-all for a reasonable fee.

You'll be able to send a copy of your tax return through a secure connection to the tax professional who will then review your return. After the tax professional reviews your tax return, you''ll receive a report that suggests changes or corrections that you can make to your tax return before you print and mail, or e-file your return.

To learn more about Professional Review, in the TurboTax program, select the Federal Review tab, then click Professional Review and follow the on-screen instructions.

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