Question

$600 cash charitable contributions (Tax Year 2021)

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
February 3, 2022
7 replies
0 views

I'm working on my 2021 income taxes (to be filed in 2022) and the software won't give credit for the $600 joint contributions. Even if I change the numbers in the contributions deduction, the overall federal amount on the return remains static which tells me it isn't taking it into account. In addition when the software reviews my deductions, it lists the standard deduction of $27,800 as the best option, lists the $600 below that, and then still gives me a total amount of $27,800 and doesn't add in the extra $600. Somethings appears to be wrong with the software. Is a fix in order?

Donations

S

scottxray

I also am having a problem with the charitable contributions in TTAX 2022 .

I have TTAX deluxe CDrom, am filing joint with my wife, and have about $3,120 in charitable cash contributions.

The standard deduction for us is on line 12a is $27,800 (we are both >65).

The contributions are shown on my schedule A, and on the lines and box between 12a and 12b that states to enter 600 if filing joint and using the standard deduction. If I enter the 600 it appears to take the entry and will complete JUST the federal review, and say there are no errors. When I then go through my state tax (which also passes when the state review is done) and then TTAX does a check of the complete return it changes line 12b back to 300 and the review flags it as wrong.

This is an apparent bug in the program and must be corrected to file.

E

eieio1

I had the exact same problem you did, I finally got the federal corrected and ran its check, but when I ran the check on the state, the federal amount changed to the wrong amount. So I went back into the federal and corrected it the same way again, but this time I did not run its check again. Then I finished the state. (Someone on this blog wrong these instructions a short while ago.) Before I will send it, I manually checked the federal and it's fine. I have not checked our state's, yet - will do so in the next few days. (TurboTax had a similiar problem last year and didn't fix it. I can do a return by hand much faster than spending hours on various TT errors every year. I understand taxes.) A thing I thought of doing, is to fix and check the federal and send & save it separately. Then do the state, check, save & send it. Good luck...

rjs

Employee

@dorrminator369

Look at the actual Form 1040, not the summary screens in the TurboTax interview. There is a bug in the summary display that, as you have observed, makes it look like it's not adding the $600 to your deductions. But the problem is only in the summary screen. The actual tax form is correct. If you have $600 on Form 1040 line 12b you are getting the deduction. The total on line 12c will include the $600.

The bug in the summary screen has been reported to TurboTax.

S

scottxray

I agree that the check of the return resets line 12b to $300 if it was set to 600. When it is flagged you can then correct it to 600, and then, as long as you don't do a recheck ( which the instructions on the page says you SHOULD do), the program will go ahead and allow you to finish the return, and file it.

However, the program is not just changing the summary screen. It is also changing the 1040, since when the the $600 figure is used ( before the check sets it to $300) the refund amount I receive is $66 larger then when it is set to the $300 amount. As soon as the final check occurs the extra $66 disappears. Reentering the $600 returns the extra $66 refund.

As has been said by several others, the problem is in the coding of the program. Last year ( 2020) the maximum allowed amount for the charitable deduction was $300, if married filing joint and using the standard deduction. The problem is likely that the 2021 program has the same code in the check for this deduction, as last years program, and has not been updated to allow the $600 that is this years allowance.

So, it IS a failure of the program and not an error by the user. At the very least Intuit could give the users with this issue a firm statement to simply not repeat the check, if this is the single and only issue that the final check finds. And then they could PATCH the program to work properly, instead of just leaving the bug in place.

CHAMP (rjs) is replying to this thread and saying don't do the Recheck. However, I do not know who CHAMP (rjs) is, and if they represent Intuit directly. So Champ, are you replying as a rep of Intuit?

C

cautery

Champ.... in spite of your "Level 15", you sir are wrong. This is a TRUE bug; verified by HUNDREDS of people that I have found so far, and it is NOT just Standard Deduction either.... A similar but different result happens at the SAME place if you switch to itemized....

At best there is a non-sanctioned work-around or two.... NONE of which are acceptable to ME while preparing official documents for submission to a Fed agency that could frack my life up 7 ways to Sunday.

J

Jdoucett

I am in the final run through. It says that I have one item to correct. This is considering the items twelve a through c. I am to take the lower of. I am filling married. I put in 600 on 12:b ( not sure which line. The system accepts. Then I do a recheck and it comes back to the same. Regardless of what I do, it just sends me back to correct. I am at a loss here. I would appreciate some help.

All of this is the charitable worksheet.

Jim

rjs

Employee

@Jdoucett Don't do the recheck. That seems to be what changes the amount. Enter the $600, then proceed. When you look at your actual tax return before you file it you should see $600 on Form 1040 line 12b.

S

scottmcn807

But it wont let me transmit my returns.... once I change the contributions to $600.

J

jw9972

Must be a software problem. Any idea when it will be fixed?

M

MendhamUser

Help me too! I'm having the same problem.

How the heck can I edit Line 12b from $300 to $600. I can't figure it out.

And why doesn't TT put those amounts $4300 Single, $600 MFJ) in their notes?!?

L

LorenSalem

how do I take advantage of the $300 deduction for contributions when using the standard deduction?

A

AamilD

Please follow the steps below to enter Donations under the CARES Act:

Click on Tax Home from the left side menu.
Click on Deductions & Credits from the main screen.
Scroll to the very bottom and you should see an option for "Wrap up tax breaks".
On he next page you should see a page titled "Get a tax break for donating cash to charity" . On this screen, you can enter the information.