JamesG1 - Your instructions did not work. I want to take the itemized deductions. I don't want the standard deduction.
My state allows me to take the itemized deductions from the federal itemized schedule A. By doing this I will pay higher federal taxes but lower state taxes and my combined taxes are lower than if I take the standard deduction. Turbo Tax is additionally applying the $600 charitable contribution (line 12b) that is associated with the standard deduction. I would get an error, correct the error and Turbo Tax (TT) temporarily indicate that error has been corrected. The problem is proceeding to do state or doing other functions, TT will refill line 12b with the $600.
