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The following documentation is an excerpt taken from the Reference Manual to HELP you get started with your tax return. However, it is strongly recommended that you review the entire Reference Manual before completing your return. To print this documentation (approximately 5 pages) type the following: type dotax.doc>prn Modular Structure. qTAX is divided into four modules or sections: Main Module - You automatically enter this module when you type qTAX. It allows you to name your tax return, and provide name, address, and social security information for you and your spouse. You also can list the names of all tax forms and worksheets available from the software. Printer Module - You can access this module from any other module. You must access it at least once to identify the printer you will be using. The purpose of the printer module is to establish the print codes qTAX will use for printing tax forms and worksheets. You will have the option of selecting from a list of printers or entering your own codes from your printer manual. Once you identify your printer save at the system generated prompt. There will be no need to access this module again unless you wish to select another printer. Worksheet Module - This module is optional and provides you with an opportunity to enter wage, income tax, social security, interest income, dividend income, itemized deductions, and dependent and childcare information. An advantage of this module is that it provides you with a neat checklist of supporting information to make sure you have not forgotten anything. All data is automatically carried forward to the appropriate tax forms. Taxform Module - This module is required to generate a tax return. All tax forms are completed and printed out of this module. These modules will be discussed in more detail later on in the documentation. Installation The procedure for installing qTAX is extremely easy. Place the floppy disk (disk 1 of 2 if installing from two 5.25" disks) type "install" followed by return. qTAX will automatically be installed on the hard disk drive you selected under the subdirectory "qtax91" (NOTE: certain files in that directory may be erased and written over if the directory already exists). Once installation is complete go to the "qtax91" subdirectory and type qtax followed by "Return" to begin using the program. Alternatively, for those of you who are familiar with DOS, the disks can be installed using the DOS copy instruction. The files are not compressed so no decompress routines need be run. It is strongly recommended that you make copies of the disks before you install. Consult your DOS manual for instructions. Starting Your Tax Return Every effort is made to correctly calculate your tax return, but YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for your own return. qTAX will not explain forms or the federal tax law to you. It is assumed that the relevant tax regulations and tax forms are understood by the preparer. All forms included with the software are approved for filing with the Internal Revenue Service, including the Form 1040 (please see "Printing Your Tax Forms" in a later chapter for specific instructions). In order to start your 1991 tax return, you must have installed qTAX. This may be accomplished through the install routine or by copying the files manually by using DOS (see INSTALL Section for more information). To begin, type qTAX and hit Return. The qtax screen will appear and a beep will sound for you to hit any key to continue. After the appearance of the shareware screen, you will be asked to enter a name for this tax return (if you have previously entered tax returns, you will be able to list ones already created). The name can be 7 characters or numbers, but no more. You must enter a name to continue. If you are only "playing" with the system type anything to continue (you can erase returns later). A menu will pop-up providing a number of choices with a brief description to the right of the choice. These choices will be self-explanatory. However, the name(s) choice is particularly important because it allows you to provide tax payer name, address, and social security number for you and your spouse. You MUST enter this data to generate a valid tax return. Next, it is suggested that you retrieve the printers module. In this module you select the printer you will be using to print your forms and worksheets. You only have to select this module once if you continue to use the same printer. The Printer module allows you to automatically select a printer from a list of printers provided. Alternatively, you can manually enter printer control codes from your printer manual if you select the manual selection under the Printer Module menu screen (see Printer Module under Modular Structure Section). If you wish to use the worksheet option for entering wage/compensation income, interest income, dividend income, deduction data, and/or dependent care expenses, retrieve the Worksheet Module. The worksheets will allow you to enter the information for you, spouse, and joint. A major advantage of using the worksheets is that you can switch filing statuses in èthe Taxform Module and the information provided in the worksheets will be automatically adjusted for the correct status. The final module in the development of your tax return is the Taxform Module. As the name implies here is where you complete the forms and schedules which comprise your tax return. The first thing to do is select the correct filing status (a filing status must be chosen to generate a valid return). It is strongly recommended that you read and understand all of the tax forms you are required to submit and review the IRS version before you fill out the qTAX version. Next go to Form 1040 and move through the form from start to finish filling out the required forms in sequence (see "Moving Around Worksheets And Forms" Section to learn about movement within the Taxform module). PLEASE NOTE: Your tax return is calculated in whole dollars, so when entering data in the taxform module DO NOT enter cents (e.g., enter 100 not 100.25, etc.) Moving Around Worksheets And Forms When in the Main and Taxform modules, qTAX places you initially in the "input" mode. While in this mode the cursor will only move to areas of the tax forms where you can enter data (input areas are highlighted). You are not granted access to areas where calculations are made, information is carried forward from another tax form or worksheet from the Worksheet module, or narrative portions of the forms. You can escape the "input" mode by either hitting the Esc key once or the Return key twice in succession. For example, if you do not use the Worksheet module, you will want to exit the "input" mode to enter wage and salary information on line seven of Form 1040 (after exiting "input" you will be able to position the cursor on line 7, then select the "override" choice from the menu to override the cell protection, and enter data). To allow you to conveniently move from form to form qTAX offers a feature which moves you automatically from a form requiring data to the form supplying it. For example, if you position the cursor on the data portion of line 8a of Form 1040, taxable interest income (you will have to escape the "input" mode to do this), and hit Return, you will automatically move to Schedule B where you can enter interest income data. Cells with this "automatic" carryforward feature are shaded (blue on color monitors). Menu Choices To bring up the main menu hit F10. Some of the key menu choices are: Name -- In main module allows you to enter taxpayer name, address, and social security number (required to generate proper tax return) Retrieve -- To go to other program modules (i.e., main, printer, worksheet, or taxform) Save -- To save data entered into qTAX forms you must answer "yes", otherwise data will be lost Print -- Choose to print data in either draft or near letter quality (near letter quality is recommended for final submission to the IRS) Override -- allows you to override any calculated value (taxform module only) De-override -- allows you to restore calculated value after using override (taxform module only) Set_Recalc -- change calculation to automatic recalculation after each entry or manual recalculation by pressing the F9 key; when manual recalculation selected automatic recalc will take place before printing and when moving from one form to another Color -- change colors displayed on monitor to your preference (to save your new color selections choose "save" under the "color" menu option and save under the file named video; to restore the original colors that came with the software select the file named original under "retrieve" under the "color" menu option) System -- allows you to exit from qTAX to DOS and return by typing "exit" Quit -- leave qTAX WITHOUT saving data Function Keys Throughout qTAX function keys are assigned special meaning as follows: F10 -- brings up main menu F7 -- produces pop-up tax summary in taxforms module -- produces dependent expense information in worksheet module F8 -- blanks out cell entry F9 -- forces calculation if in manual recalculation mode Refer to the bottom line of the screen for definition of what the function keys will do. Printing Your Tax Forms General Printing Information. The first time you use qTAX it is recommended that you retrieve the printer module. The "select" option in this module allows you to select the printer you are using from a list of printers so that the software can set the correct printer codes to print your tax information. Should you not find your printer on the list, or the tax forms do not print correctly please try the following: 1) Make sure that you have selected the correct printer in the printer module and SAVE this information when prompted 2) If that still does not work, check your printer manual to see if there is another printer that your printer will emulate (imitate) which is included in the qTAX list. If you find one go back to the printer module, select it, and save the information when prompted. Then try again. 3) If that still does not solve your printing problems, choose the "manual" printer selection process and enter the printer codes when qTAX prompts you. You'll find the print code information in your printer manual. Printing Worksheets. To print income, deduction, or child and dependent care worksheets, retrieve the worksheet module and select the "worksheet" followed by the "print" menu choice. You can select a single worksheet to print or all worksheets at once. You may choose draft or letter quality mode (it's recommended that you select letter quality mode for any worksheets that you plan to submit with your return). See APPENDIX A for samples of worksheet forms. Printing Tax Forms (except IRS acceptable Form 1040). It is recommended that you print any form to be submitted to the IRS in near letter or letter quality mode, on 8" or 8.5" by 11" white paper of at least 18 pound weight (most good quality computer paper meets this requirement). Margins should be .25" along the top, bottom, and sides of all computer generated forms, pin fed holes must be removed before submission, and forms should be submitted in the order specified by the IRS. Be sure to include any supporting worksheets required by the IRS in the appropriate order (e.g., a supporting schedule will be automatically generated if you use the worksheets option and have more interest income sources than can fit on Schedule B). All qTAX forms are in a format acceptable to the IRS. Please note: Early release versions of the software contain forms which may not be acceptable to the IRS and should not be filed. Early release versions are identified as 91.ERn where n=numeric. Printing IRS Approved Form 1040. qTAX is set up to print an IRS acceptable Form 1040 which can be signed and submitted. However, the IRS is very particular as to what is an acceptable computer generated 1040 (much more particular than they are regarding other forms and schedules). Since printers differ greatly in their capabilities, compare your 1040 with the official one. If there are strange characters in the qTAX copy, or if it does not resemble the IRS form, do not submit it. Rather, copy the information from the draft 1040 to the official IRS form. The IRS will accept a mixture of computer and manually generated forms. APPENDIX B shows a copy of an acceptable dot matrix and laser version of Form 1040. Compare your copy to these in order to determine if they will be acceptable to the IRS.