Question

How do I get a federal return on a car donation $500 or less?

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
June 7, 2019
5 replies
0 views

No federal return after charity donation. I entered a vehicle that sold in a donation for $500 or less but I get no federal return. What am I missing?

TurboTax Deluxe Windows

M

Marketstar

Employee

Have you entered all of your other itemize deductions?

J

jai2n4Author

Yes I have. I am done filling out the federal taxes and yet to file it. Is there a limit where a charity donation will not be considered?

J

jai2n4Author

Still have not gotten an update about my question

M

Marketstar

Employee

Did you take the Standard Deduction or did you itemize deductions? If you itemized. have you viewed your 1040, the line 40 Itemized deduction dollar amount?

DawnC0

Employee

Charitable contributions are itemized deductions. You get the standard deduction OR itemized deductions, not both. TurboTax will give you the larger deduction automatically. All of your itemized deductions must be higher than your standard deduction before you will see any benefit. Here are this year's Standard Deduction amounts:

$6,350 for Single
$12,700 for Married Filing Jointly, or Qualifying Widow(er) with dependent child
$9,350 for Head of Household
$6,350 for Married Filing Separately

So, the total of all your itemized deductions (mortgage interest, taxes, donations, medical expense, etc.) must be higher than the amount above to get any tax benefit for the donation.

The deduction (either standard or itemized) lowers your taxable income and it does not generate refunds. They can only bring your tax to 0.