I’ve been using Turbo Tax to file my taxes for years. I have become more comfortable with using the package and particularly enjoy letting the computer download capital gains and losses, dividends, and interest directly from financial institutions.

I learned something this year while talking to the help center looking for assistance to correct an error. The error was associated with the information on a 1099-R form received on my withdrawal of funds from a retirement account. However, the hint applies to any form that has an error.

I don’t know whether the errors on both federal and state taxes were from a glitch in the software or, more likely, I had made an error in entering the information. I tried going back and retyping the information, but the error persisted. The call center (and it took some work to find the number to call) told me deleting and retyping information often does not correct errors. They had me click on the “Forms” icon that is the third icon to the left on the top right side of the page. (Warning:  I understand that the Mac version might show the forms icon in a different location. Look for the icon that represents a stack of papers and is labeled “Forms.”)

Clicking on the “Forms” icon opens the entire menu of forms for both federal and state taxes to on the left side of the page (federal forms first followed by state forms). I scrolled down to find the federal form that had an error, opened, deleted it, and filled out the information again. (I understand the Mac version uses the term “Remove” instead of “Delete.”) I was told that “delete or remove,” depending on whether you are using Windows or Mac, is the only way to correct a form that has an error.

The next step was to once again to click on the “Forms” icon to locate the erroneous state form generated from the previously incorrect federal data. I was instructed to delete that form. The program immediately completed a new and correct form.

The “Forms” icon was replaced by “Step-By-Step” after I fixed my problematic forms. The error check after clicking the new icon gave me clearance that the mistakes had been corrected and I was able to file my return.  Good luck with completing the increasingly complex tax filing process!