Getting error: The entry 1040/1040 Wks : Charitable contributions has an unacceptable value. I entered 300 and it shows properly in the form . can you help ?

[Josh97]

This was the solution that worked for me.

[tinaH2]

I am using a downloaded version of TT Deluxe (so not online). I had the same issue and initially couldn't find a way around it. After a half hour on the phone with TT, we got it to work without reducing the amount of my refund:

1. Under Federal Taxes/Deductions and Credits/Charitable Donations -- delete any entries that you might have entered there (itemized).

2. Continue through that section until you are Done with Deductions.

3. Continue through the next few windows until you see "Charitable Cash Contributions under the CARES Act."

4. Do as instructed and enter the total amount of your cash contributions to charitable organizations up to $300.

After I did this, I was able to file without getting that error message.

[mrburgess]

I had itemized my deductions because turbotax indicated that I should do it.  Then I had to make sure the cash itemized amount matched the amount for the standard deduction for the error to go away. 

I reported cash donations of $275 so the entered amount had to match the $275 for the standard deduction entry.  It was confusing that I had chosen the standard deduction but the software was validating against the itemized cash amount. 

[KathrynG3]

Thank you for sharing your experience. Yes, you are correct. Itemized deduction filers are not eligible for the Charitable Donations above-the-line deduction. Standard deduction filers can take up to $300, but should be reported in the amount given.

To qualify for the Cares Act above-the-line deduction up to $300 for all taxpayers except married filing separate, who would each have a maximum of $150, for standard deduction filers, the IRS clarifies that the contribution must be:

1. a cash contribution;
2. made to a qualifying organization;
3. made during the calendar year 2020

@mrburgess

[robin2262]

does anyone else have a problem paying for a product whose company is aware of a problem, gives customers no information about an issue they are aware of, and has horrible customer service about the problem they themselves acknowledge? I have used turbo tax for 8 years, I will go anywhere else for tax preparation in the future. I hope this is what your customer "chat" is for and that other people dealing with the charitable deductions fee . I'm sure there was no shortage of people struggling with the charitable donations and turbo tax's inability to fix or willingness to address. I'm done. They are awful. My brother is an IRS guy and he recommended that I stop using them. I will but not until next year. Hope they go under.

[jwok11]

Hi, 

I have a charitable cash donation of $50k (501c3) that’s listed as itemized deduction. But it wouldn’t show up on 1040 10a. So it doesn’t reduce my AGI by $50k on TurboTax. Is this a known bug? What would be the work around to this issue? Thanks. 

[macuser_22]

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@jwok11 wrote:

Hi, 

I have a charitable cash donation of $50k (501c3) that’s listed as itemized deduction. But it wouldn’t show up on 1040 10a. So it doesn’t reduce my AGI by $50k on TurboTax. Is this a known bug? What would be the work around to this issue? Thanks. 

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For 2020 itemized charitable donations go on Schedule A and if more than the standard deduction go on the 1040 line 12.   Line 10a is the Schedule 1 line 22 amount and has nothing to do with donations.      The 1040 line 10b (not 10a) allows cash donations not exceeding $300 if you do not itemize.

[Letytaxes]

Not sure how to explain. But I got it to work Thank You Jesus. After frustration and praying 😇

I found this is what worked on mine. All other options on the chats didn’t work. 
so from the review section. Where it gives you the error and it shows the form field where the 300 or 600 is showing . I cleared (backspace ) leaning it blank. On the top heading ( next to the error) and back space and hit delete on the actual field of the form . BUT I click Outside the form ( to the side outside area on the screen . And hit Done and continue and wrap just like the rest of steps given on the previous solutions .

so this way it worked . And continue from here to the state area where the error shows up again, and I did the same thing, clear leaving both fields shown blank. Click on the outside of the form . ( side area of screen) done and continue , thought every screen until the end and it clears the error . Don’t just jumó out to the review after clearing the fields , it may affect the fix . So just keep going .

I hope I made myself clear , but I got it to work this way . Hope this helps ! God bless you all! 

[Mike Gallagher]

We are still stuck on the charitable contributions. What is Turbo Tax doing about this?

[DoninGA]

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@Mike Gallagher wrote:

We are still stuck on the charitable contributions. What is Turbo Tax doing about this?

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For the TurboTax desktop editions -

To remove the error I went into Forms mode and deleted the Charitable Organization Worksheet.  Then on the Form 1040 Worksheet for Line 12b removed the $300 amount so Line 12b is now blank (empty).

Going back to Step-by-Step I completed the Deductions & Credits section without entering anything for a charitable donation.  Continuing through the screens until landing on the screen labeled Charitable Cash Contributions under Cares Act, I entered $600.  Continued through Final Review without error.

For the TurboTax online editions -

The problem appears to be that a charitable donation was entered in the Deductions and Credits section of the program when you are only eligible for the Standard Deduction.

Click on Tax Tools on the left side of the online program screen

Click on Tools

Click on Delete a form

Scroll through the all the forms, schedules and worksheets listed and delete all the Charitable Organization forms listed.

When completed with removing forms click on Continue With My Return at the bottom of the list.

Click on Federal on the left side of the screen

Click on Deductions & Credits at the top of the screen

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on Wrap up tax breaks

Continue through the screens.  After the screen showing that you are getting the Standard Deduction the following screen is Charitable Cash Contributions under Cares Act.  Enter $600 if filing Jointly or $300 for all other filing status'.  The federal review and the Final Review should no longer show an error for the charitable donation.

[gdmead]

Hi there - I'm experiencing the same issue here, for 2021. Any suggestions? It keeps saying the "Charitable contributions has an unacceptable value" and it says to enter $300, then it keeps coming up as an error. Unsure of what to do.

[Mike Gallagher]

After spending hours on this..go to the worksheets. The worksheet with the error has a red stopsign along the left side of the form. When you open that form the error is identified. The directions tell you what to do. If you are a married couple change the number to 600. The error & the stopsign disappear..You can finish & e-file.

[kgraves3484]

I was getting this same message.  After reading, It says if married filing jointly enter $600.  Once I did this (because I am married filing jointly) it took care of the issue.

[carletonm]

I put in $965 of itemized deductions. The program put in $300, even though we are filing as a married couple. The correct amount is $600. I went into the worksheet and tried to change $300, flagged as an error, to $600. However, the return would not save and when I reopened it, the amount had been changed back to $300. And it flagged things as an error again. I finally took out all the charitable deduction worksheets, closed the return out, reopened it, typed $600 into the worksheet, and that finally took. I did not see anything about the Cares Act.

TURBOTAX REALLY NEEDS TO FIX THIS.

[JohnB5677]

This can easily be corrected

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.