How do I enter info from IRS notice CP11 that I got about last year's return, which affects this year's tax return?

[phelix-g]

Last year, I got a notice CP11 from the IRS with new calculations for charitable contributions. These new numbers affect how much of the charitable contributions I can carry over to this year. Where can I enter that information so it accurately carries over to this year's return?

[DaveF1006]

You will need to amend 2020 tax return to reflect the new calculations for charitable contributions so that the carryover will be correct in your 2021 return.

1. Sign in to TurboTax.
2. Scroll down to under Your tax returns & documents, select 2020
3. Select Amend (change) 2020 return,
4. Then Start amending my 2020 return.
5. Then, select the reason you’re amending and follow the onscreen instructions.
6. Then go to federal>deductions and credits>

[ Edited 01/17/22|06:56 PM PST]

[SundayInSalem]

Have you started your 2021 tax return yet?

If you have — and are using the same TurboTax Deluxe online account — then TurboTax has already transferred your 2020 information into 2021. Amending your 2020 return will not ‘fix’ 2021, unless you Clear and Start Over after adjusting your 2020 return.

A better solution is to adjust your charitable donation carryover in 2021 by going to the Charitable Donations Carryover section. In TurboTax Deluxe:

1. Select Federal in the left column
2. Click Deductions & Credits at the top. You will see Your tax breaks.
3. Scroll down to Charitable Donations and click Show more
4. START Charitable Donations Carryover from 2020
5. Go to the non-cash or cash screen and enter/adjust the amount of the 2020 carryover

NOTE: If the 2020 IRS adjustment caused a change in a state return, you may have to file an amended state return if you have not already done so.

For more info: Understanding your CP11 Notice

[DaveF1006]

@phelix-g  One thing I forgot to mention yesterday is that although you will amend your 2020 return in order to get the correct carryover amount contributions into your 2021 return, you will not file this 2020 amended return with the IRS.  This is merely done so that your contributions carryover will flow seamlessly into your 2021 return.

Also as sundayinsalem correctly advises, if you have started your 2021 return, you will need to clear and start over so that flow can be correctly captured into your 2021 return. Instead of using their suggestion however, it is better to prepare the amendment in 2020 before preparing your 2021 return, than to try to manually put this in because there is a chance that a mistake can be made that sometimes cannot be easily resolved.

[phelix-g]

Thank you! This is all actually incredibly helpful!

I've tried amending last year's return with TurboTax, but it won't let me access the actual forms to enter the numbers from the IRS calculations. Is there any way to work around that? 

(I got the notice CP11 because the IRS claimed there was an error and I can only take a charitable donation deduction of 60%, not 100% - which I believe is some sort of error. So TurboTax just gives me the same numbers as before.)

[DaveF1006]

@phelix-g  For 2020, you should have an option to pick 100%/50% Charity if your donation was to a church, goodwill, schools etc. After you enter your donations, there should be a screen that looks like the one I included below. Although this isn't available in 2021, it was certainly available in 2020. 

After you enter your charities, there should be a summary screen giving you an opportunity to review all your charities. Now select the button on the bottom right that says Done With Charitable contributions. The very next screen should look like the one I included below.