First i line up the client docs in order of submission in the program.. W-2s, 1099 - INTs, 1099- DIV,s, 1099-Rs, SSA 1099s. and if they bring me the mortgage statement, real estate taxes, charitable contiburtions.. I glance at them and sicne the standard deduction is so large I almost always just slide those to the side if they are not enough to eclipse itemeizing.. I don't even enter those items usually.. why would i enter them if they have no impact on the return.. one or twice a year i do as i have very rare clients that insist that they are saving taxes by "not really itemizing but entered all the same".. i humor them and enter the itemized deductions in those rare cases but is very rare.

So i go down the 1040 or use the forms in use bar, from last year pulled over... enter the data, almost always in order of the 1040.. then i go back and review the return.. comparing the source data to the 1040 on the screen.. flip to state, handle the state, city, and the school return, who people are still complaning about this year but I know how it works and it is different this year, no big deal.  I adjusted to it.  Here is where it all takes place.