Can you amend your return to add a charitable cash contribution under cares act? I am not getting the screen that I got when I originally filed. Couldn't resolve on phone

[pantherash23]

When I click wrap up under deductions

[MaryM428]

In 2020, if you use the standard deduction you can claim up to $300 in charitable donations without itemizing.

Here are the steps to get to the screen to add the charitable donation:

1. Click Deductions and Credits
2. Go through the screens until you come to Wrap Up Tax Breaks
   If the standard deduction is chosen you will see a screen that asks Any Charitable Contributions?
3. Make sure that $300 or correct amount  is filled in and then click Continue
4. Click Lets Keep Going

This will not add $300 to your refund amount, but it will reduce the amount of taxes owed or inccread your refund, usually by about $30.  You have to go through the credits and deductions screens for this to work.

CARES Act

[pantherash23]

I am trying to amend my return and have tried that numerous times and do not get that screen, it just goes back to the main amendment page after I confirm the standard deduction. I did exactly that when I filed my original return, I just forgot a donation so I want to add it. I called to speak to someone who was not able to help me and said it might be an issue with my tax form and transferred me. I was hung up on before speaking to anyone else because I wouldn't upgrade to the $80 edition.

[MaryM428]

The CARES act allows tax payers who select the standard deduction to take up to $300 as a charitable donation without itemizing deductions.

Here is how to get to that screen when you do your amend:

1. Click Deductions and Credits
2. Go through the screens until you come to Wrap Up Tax Breaks
   If the standard deduction is chosen you will see a screen that asks Any Charitable Contributions?
3. Make sure that $300 or correct amount  is filled in and then click Continue
4. Click Lets Keep Going

The "trick" is to go through all of the credit and deduction screens until it comes to the standard deduction question and then chose standard deduction.

[pantherash23]

Yes, I did that. Multiple times and on the phone with the person sharing my screen. Something is wrong then, who can help me?

[KrisD15]

Are you sure you didn't get the contribution on your original return?

The limit is 300 and it will be on your 1040 line 10b. 

[pantherash23]

I am using online, I followed the instructions above and I do not have "Go" on the standard deduction page, it says "continue" and goes straight back to the main amendment page, same as before. The cares act screen does not show up.

[pantherash23]

I only put the amount of one donation and forgot about the second one, hence why I want to amend it. 

[KrisD15]

What are the amounts? You can only claim up to $300 total. 

[pantherash23]

The original amount I claimed was $10, I forgot about a $50 donation and want to add it. Well under the $300.

[ColeenD3]

Please follow these steps to enter the charitable cash contribution for 10b :

1. Login to your TurboTax Account 
2. Click "Federal" from the left side of your screen
3. Click “Deductions &Credits” on the top
4. Scroll all the way down and click the "Wrap up tax breaks" button
5. Continue until the "Charitable Cash Contributions under Cares Act" screen
6. Enter your charitable cash contributions.

[pantherash23]

As I notes several times already, that screen does NOT come up for me. I am trying to amend my return and it just goes straight back to the main amendment page after the standard deduction screen. I do not get the cares act charitable contributions screen like I did when I originally filed. 

[BillM223]

@pantherash23

Are you using the Online or CD/desktop product?

When you start the amendment process, Go to Deductions & Credits (if you can) or do a Search (upper right) for charitable contributions and click on the jump-to link (Mac users must find charitable contributions in the Topics List).

When you get there, add your second donation - make sure it is also MONEY.

Then on the left of your screen, click on Review. If things happen the way they did in my test, then the Review will notice that you made a change in contributions and then ask you to enter the line 10b amount (the above the line charitable contribution deduction). 

Note that many posts above reference "Wrap Up Tax Breaks" but this button does not exist in all version of TurboTax. I find it better to click on the Review where TurboTax should notice that you have the Standard Deduction, have cash contributions, and express a curiosity about the line 10b above-the-line deduction, giving you the opportunity to change the line 10b value from $10 to $60.

Let us know if this works for you.

[pantherash23]

I am using the online version. I do not have a "Review" option anywhere after adding the donation under Deductions & Credits. On the left I only have Tax Home, Documents, Amend, Cancel Amend, Tax Tools. 

[BillM223]

Under Deductions & Credits, at the bottom, do you see "Wrap Up Tax Breaks"? I am told that in Online, if you click on this option, that you will be asked about this above the deduction IF you have entered at least one charitable contribution with MONEY, and you are taking the Standard Deduction.

Unfortunately, I cannot test this, so I will have to ask your indulgence to see if this works for you.