In the H&R Block tax software, forms are the official forms used by the IRS and your state. They are the electronic equivalent of the forms you get in the mail, or pick up at your local post office or library.
Worksheets are additional documents that the program uses to get the correct numbers onto the official IRS and state tax forms. Often, some additional calculation is required to get the correct number for a particular line on a tax form.
For example, in your federal return, Form 1040 has lines for your IRA deduction and your spouse's IRA deduction. But how much of your IRA contributions you or your spouse can deduct depends on such factors as you and your spouse's income, and whether either of you is covered by a retirement plan. The IRA Deduction Worksheet helps you take all these considerations into account.
The H&R Block software always warns you if you try to enter a number directly on an official tax form that is normally carried from a worksheet.
If you are absolutely certain that you are entering the correct number, you can override the amount entered by the program and enter the number directly.
If you're not certain of all the tax implications, let the program take you to the corresponding worksheet and help you figure out the correct entry.
The H&R Block software also contains a few worksheets that help you look back at your previous years' taxes and plan ahead for future years' taxes. Click on the Plan tab to find out more about these worksheets.
Related Topic
Planning for Next Year