cant change from standard deduction to itemized

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
March 23, 2020
2 replies
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Turbo tax online will not let me change from standard deduction to itemized deductions. When I click on the box it keeps returning to the same page. It says the refund is the same either way. But my medical expense deduction alone is larger than the standard $13,850 deduction for single seniors plus my total income reported on line 7b. When I view the print copy there is no Schedule A and there is an inconsistency between lines 11b, which says there is a 10,000 plus taxable income, and 0 tax on line 12a.

What do I do to correct this?

TurboTax Premier Online

macuser_22

Alumni - Champ

For 2018 and 2019 many taxpayers that itemized in the past will find that they can no longer itemize because the standard deduction has doubled so all of their itemized deduction s no longer exceed the standard deduction.

Only if all itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction will it be of benefit.

Not all itemized deductions count the full amount. Medical expenses are reduced by 7.5% of AGI so if your AGI is $30,000, for example, then only medical expenses more than $2,250 would be an itemized deduction.

The 2018 tax law also caps the total of Sales tax OR State and local income tax, Property (real estate and personal property) taxes at $10,000.

Mortgage interest on loans after Dec 16, 2017 may be limited.

The Mortgage must be secured by the property to qualify.

Interest on home equity loans and lines of credit are deductible only if the borrowed funds are used to buy, build, or substantially improve the taxpayer’s home that secures the loan.

You can check the actual amount of itemized deductions by using the Search Topics for "itemized deductions, choosing" (under "My Account, Tools" in the online versions). Click on "Change my deduction". That will display the actual amount of itemized deductions vs. the standard deduction. (Be sure to uncheck "Change my deduction" after checking it so you do not lock in the wrong deduction.

2019 standard deductions

$12,200 Single
$18,350 Head of Household
$24,400 Married Jointly

Add an additional $1,300 for over age 65 or blind
This amount increases to $1,650 if the taxpayer is also unmarried.

**Disclaimer: This post is for discussion purposes only and is NOT tax advice. The author takes no responsibility for the accuracy of any information in this post.**

ReginaM

Level 12

Yes, you can switch to Itemized Deductions by following these instructions while in TurboTax:

While in your Tax Home,
Select Deductions & Credits,
Scroll down and select Wrap up Tax Breaks,
Select Continue until you get to this screen:
Select Show me the breakdown of my itemized deductions.
Select Change my Deductions:
Select Itemized Deductions.

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Anonymous

The problem is that when I click the itemized deduction box the screen just keeps coming back to the same page. The program is not accepting choice. I have tried this multiple times.