I have a cash charitable contribution on line 10(a) of $700. It is changed to $300 on line 10(b). Turbo Tax is flagging this and saying it needs to be blank.

[Mike4128]

I am taking standard deduction

[RayW7]

If you follow these instructions you should not have an error.

For 2020, Congress has changed tax law to permit the deduction of certain charitable contributions “above the line”, even if the taxpayer is taking the Standard Deduction otherwise. The new deduction will appear on line 10b on the 1040.

There are restrictions: the contribution must be in cash or cash-equivalent and it cannot exceed $300 for most filing statuses (exception: $150 for Married Filing Separate).

To enter this deduction, you must enter the charitable contributions as if you were going to itemize these contributions (do a Search (upper right) for charitable contributions and click on the jump-to result). Be sure to indicate that the contribution was “Money” or else TurboTax will not ask about it later.

Note that you do not need to enter any other charitable contributions if you are not planning to itemize.

Then, in the Federal Review at the end of your data entry, TurboTax will realize that you are taking the Standard Deduction and ask you to enter the amount of the charitable contribution that was in cash. Note the limits described above ($300 or $150); in the desktop product, at least, if you enter an amount larger than this, you will be asked to reduce it to the limit when you enter the amount.

[Mike4128]

No, I understand the software and the tax.  I have completed entering the data and the $300 shows up in my tax and TURBO TAX tells me the field should be blank.

[Mike4128]

Turbo Tax gives and error that 10B has to be blank.  

[KathrynG3]

Thank you for the additional information and the screenshot. You are correct, that is what the form should look like. The error would occur if you entered anything in the Cares Act section.

TurboTax is considering it an override. Try leaving this field blank and running the review again. This will clear the error. TurboTax wants to calculate it for you. It will still carry $300 to Line 10b.

For other details about Charitable Contributions, see: Charitable Contribution Deductions | Internal Revenue Service

[Mike4128]

I didn't add the amount in 10b.  I did not have anything on the CARES ACT.  If I remove the 300 the error goes away but I also loose the deduction and my tax debt goes up.  Everything is showing up was done allowing Turbo Tax to calculate and place the values in the appropriate fields.  I even went back and cleared my cash contributions and then re-entered and Turbo Tax put the 300 back in 10b.  This seems to be a bug with Turbo Tax.

[DawnC]

Did you enter $703 dollars for cash contributions?    The max is $300, try removing the cash contributions from the Deductions and Credits section and re-enter just the $300.   But making the changes in the review section won't correct it.   Go to the interview section and delete and re-add from there.    And after you enter the $300, scroll down to the bottom of the Deductions and Credits screen (you should end up there after deleting and adding the cash contributions) and click on Wrap Up Tax Breaks.   Then you should get the confirmation page confirming that you are taking the standard deduction.   Then go back through the review and the error should be gone.   

[Mike4128]

I had a number of different cash contributions.  They totaled $703 and then Turbo Tax translated that to $300 in 10(b).  I will make the change to see the result but it doesn't seem that entering the wrong information to get the right results is logical.  Also, I did remove all contributions in the interview section and re-added them with the same result but, I put the actual traceable amounts in which was the total contribution of $703.

[PattiF]

The only amount that is accepted as a cash charitable contribution on the 2020 tax return is up to and including $300. If you are taking the standard deduction, then the $300 amount reduces your taxable income.

[Mike4128]

I just did everything suggested.  I removed all charitable contributions and yes, the error went away, so did this deduction.  I added them back in and then the page that outlined the limits, I removed the $703 and put in $300.  That amount was added by Turbo Tax on line 10(b).  Then when completing the return it was listed as an error.  

[Mike4128]

It feels no one reads the notes.  I had 703 in line 10(a) and Turbo Tax put 300 in line 10(b) but then said it was an error.  I went back and entered $300 in line 10(a) (using the interview process) and Turbo Tax put the $300 in line 10(b) but once again, said it was an error.   This has to be a bug in Turbo Tax.  I have read the rules and followed the process manually.  The $300 in line 10(b) with standard deduction is correct.

[Mike4128]

Adding image

[Mike4128]

Just to add to the image, 10c is also 300

[Mike4128]

One additional detail.  I removed all charitable contribution from my itemized section.  As I went through the interview, it informed me I was better off with standard deduction.  Then I was shown I could take up to $300 in cash contributions.  I added the $300.  Below is what I got which was no different than before.  I cannot file electronically with this error and each time I go through it, my tax bill gets higher than it was before!

[Opus 17]

You can't both have a schedule A itemized deduction and a line 10b special deduction, and the program seems rather stupid about this. It sounds like you still have a schedule A itemized deduction worksheet in the system.  If you are using the desktop version, switch to Forms mode and see if you can delete schedule A and any worksheets leftover for your charitable contributions.  (Each charity you enter gets a worksheet, and that information flows to schedule A.).  

If using Turbotax online, you can go to the Tools menu and try deleting Schedule A, if it is listed.

If the problem is a worksheet you can't access using TT Online (because most of the worksheets are hidden to online users) you may need to call customer support and have them track down and delete the offending worksheet.

https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact/