Skip to main content
January 22, 2022
Solved

Charitable donations with standard deduction

  • January 22, 2022
  • 13 replies
  • 0 views

Here's the situation: I made 2 donations in 2021, one for $100 and one for $300-- entered all the info under deductions.  TurboTax chose standard deduction for me as best option.  I finish my taxes and go to do smart check and i have an error: "1040/1040SR Wks: Charitable contributions: Charitable contributions has an unacceptable value."  Then it shows a box with 300. and a label Charitable contributions.

 

What am I supposed to do?

 

I understand that I can only claim $300 deduction if taking standard deduction, but TT keeps showing an error?

 

Thanks

    Best answer by DoninGA

    Using the TurboTax desktop editions -

    To remove the error I went into Forms mode and deleted the Charitable Organization Worksheets.  Then on the Form 1040 Worksheet for Line 12b removed the $300 amount so Line 12b is now blank (empty).

    Going back to Step-by-Step I completed the Deductions & Credits section without entering anything for a charitable donation and click on Done with Deductions.  Continuing through the screens until landing on the screen labeled Charitable Cash Contributions under Cares Act, I entered $300.  Continued through Final Review without error.

     

    For the TurboTax online editions -

     

    The problem appears to be that a charitable donation was entered in the Deductions and Credits section of the program when you are only eligible for the Standard Deduction.

    Click on Tax Tools on the left side of the online program screen

    Click on Tools

    Click on Delete a form

    Scroll through the all the forms, schedules and worksheets listed and delete all the Charitable Organization forms listed.

    When completed with removing forms click on Continue With My Return at the bottom of the list.

     

    Click on Federal on the left side of the screen

    Click on Deductions & Credits at the top of the screen

    Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on Wrap up tax breaks

     

    Continue through the screens.  After the screen showing that you are getting the Standard Deduction the following screen is Charitable Cash Contributions under Cares Act.  Enter $600 if filing Jointly or $300 for all other filing status'.  The federal review and the Final Review should no longer show an error for the charitable donation.

    13 replies

    February 24, 2022

    While I could itemize deductions for my 2021 return, I will not do so, since the standard deduction is better for me. Same as I did last year, I entered the specific cash charitable contributions rather than just the total. When I go to wrap up tax breaks, the total charitable amount is reflected there and when Turbo checks the return, I get no charitable errors. Based on reading this thread, I should delete the specific contributions and just enter the total. Is this still necessary? I prefer listing the individual contributions as backup in the return. 

    February 24, 2022

    If you:

    • Want to claim the standard deduction,
    • Are able to report a Federal 1040 line 12b Charitable Cash Contributions under CARES Act
    • Generate no errors upon Review, and
    • Have no conflicts with your state tax return(s).

    there is no need to make changes to your charitable contributions reported under Donations to Charity in 2021.

     

    Regardless of how you report you charitable contributions, maintain a record of your charitable contributions with your tax file.

     

     

    **Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"
    April 6, 2022

    If I didn't already know about this deduction I would have missed it entirely! I suspect many people will. I finally found it on the 1040 form itself and entered my $600.

     

    Turbotax should be ashamed for not making this easy! An update is desperately needed!

     

    April 13, 2022

    not updating taxes

    April 13, 2022

    @sarber12  What is not updating on your taxes?

    **Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"
    April 13, 2022

    Charitable donation with Standard deduction

    Back in March2022, received a online updat to TurboTax  (I have the CD TurboTax). THis corrected issue  with

    1040SR : Standard deduction and $600 (donation added to line 12b). What this update - prompt saying you are getting "Federal Standard deduction", Next prompt "CaresACT" would prompt you to enter donations $600 (for joint return)

     

    Prior to this update: I had to delete all charitable donation, than go to step by step (On turbotax) and enter $600 and on line 12b enter $600.00. For state tax -If you do it this way, you need to go to step by step, and enter charitable amount in the state tax reutrn.

    Go the Preview  for Tax form - to verify standard deduction  (12a)  and CaresAct $600.00 is on 1040.

    And verify Total donation are on your State Tax.

     

    Check to see if TurboTax sent you a download - update.  Every time I open my TurboTax - I usually get a prompt of available updates.  Updates are not automatically  - you need tookay update when prompted.

     

    Good luck