I completed my tax entries including charitable deductions adding up to over $600. Why does "Analysis" change the deduction from $600 to $300 and declare an error?

[nielsonm]

When I correct the entry to $600, then run Analysis again, it changes the worksheet and declares the same error. This sounds just like the "invalid value" problem, but fixing it runs in a circle.

[rjs]

It's a bug. TurboTax is aware of it. The workaround is to change it to $600 and don't go back to the analysis. It will stay $600 as long as you don't run the analysis again. To make sure, when you save a PDF of your tax return before you file, verify that Form 1040 line 12b is $600.

[nielsonm]

OK - Hope they fix it before I actually file. Makes me nervous when the software does things like that. But thank you VERY much for the reply and the workaround.

Mike

[JohnB5677 · Accepted solution]

This method has worked for me.

First, you must clear all donations from the Deductions & Credits input screen

In the

Desktop version:

1. Go to Deductions and Credits

2. Scroll to the bottom of the page

3. Select Done with Deductions

4. Let's check your Deductions .. Continue

5. Here are your 2021 Deductions ... Continue

6. The standard deduction is right for you ... Continue

7. GET A TAX BREAK FOR DONATING CASH TO CHARITY

8. Enter your amount

Online version

1. Go to Deductions & Credits

2. Scroll to the very bottom

3. Select Wrap up Tax Breaks (Online)

4. Continue through the interview to 

5. Charitable Cash Contributions under Cares Act

6. Enter your donation.

[nielsonm]

This mostly worked. But ...

- This appears to have worked very well for the Federal 1040.

- However, it appears that any excess above the $600 is not forwarded to my Colorado state return, where it would have been allowed as an additional deduction. Some experimentation shows that once the amount goes above $600 in the Federal form any excess is NOT forwarded to the Colorado form because there is no change to the Colorado tax amount.

- So I'm going to guess the additional step for filers in states that allow deductions above the Federal limit is to manually determine the excess from the federal form, then add any "additional deduction" the state may allow, then input that in the state form. In the case of Colorado this total additional amount goes in the box in the "Additional Qualifying Charitable Contributions" page. Without any visible worksheets I can't tell if something is being counted twice, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

With this additional note your solution appears to be the best for those taking the Standard Deduction plus claiming the cash deduction on Federal and additional allowed deductions on the State form.

[ldamario]

Didn'twork for me. Step #7 did not appear.

[JohnB5677]

Are you in the Desktop (DVD) version, or are you in the Online version?

You must first clear all donations from the Deductions & Credits input screen.

In the desktop version, there may be some additional questions between 4 & 5, but it definitely leads to the final screen  

7. GET A TAX BREAK FOR DONATING CASH TO CHARITY

[JohnB5677]

Are you in the Desktop (DVD) version, or are you in the Online version?

You must first clear all donations from the Deductions & Credits input screen.

In the desktop version, there may be some additional questions between 4 & 5, but it definitely leads to the final screen  

7. GET A TAX BREAK FOR DONATING CASH TO CHARITY

[ldamario]

I'm using the desktop version. Even if your process works, it makes no sense to me remove the charitable donations I have already entered in order to prevent a bug from changing my $600 allowed deduction to $300. It's like two wrongs making a right.