Making Entries on Forms

We recommend that you use the Interview to enter your tax data. The Interview asks the necessary questions and automatically enters the data in the proper location. However, if you prefer to work without assistance, you can use Forms Central to enter your data directly on to the forms.

When you are in Forms Central, you can right-click on a field to display an Edit menu that allows you to cut, copy, and paste entries, override a calculated or carried entry, and mark an entry tentative. You can also create an itemized list for an entry field.

Keep in mind that gray fields on a form are calculated or carried fields. The information in these fields comes from another place or form. The only way to enter or change data in the gray fields is to override the entry. You can enter data directly into any white fields on a form.

Entering Data in a Field

1. Open the form.

2. Click in the entry field.

3. Enter your data.

Removing an Entry

1. Open the form.

2. Click in the entry field with data.

3. Right-click on the field and select Cut. The program removes the entry from the field.

Copying and Pasting an Entry

1. Open the form.

2. Click in the field with the value you want to copy.

3. Right-click on the field and select Copy.

4. Click in the field that you want to copy the data to.

5. Right-click on the field and select Paste.

Marking an Entry Tentative

To mark an entry "Tentative":

1. Open the form.

2. Move the cursor to the entry field and right-click.

3. Select Mark Entry Tentative from the menu. An asterisk (*) appears in the tentative field when you move to another field.

To unmark a "Tentative" entry:

1. Open the form.

2. Move the cursor to the entry field and right-click.

3. Select Unmark Entry Tentative from the menu. The asterisk (*) is deleted when you move to another field.

To find all the tentative fields in your tax return, select Error Check from the Tools menu.

Overriding a Calculated or Carried Value

To override a calculated or carried value:

1. Open the form.

2. Right-click in the field with the value you want to override.

3. Select Override.

4. On the Entry Information tab, click in the Override this entry check box. A checkmark appears in the box.

5. Enter a value in the field below.

6. Click OK.

To clear an overridden value:

1. Open the form.

2. Right-click in the field with the value that is overridden.

3. Select Override.

4. On the Entry Information tab, uncheck the Override this entry box by clicking in it. The value will be grayed out.  

5. Click OK. The entry is deleted.