Does anyone get an error message when filing jointly, taking the standard deduction, and deducting $300 in cash contributions under the Cares Act?

[Pavel456]

Turbo Tax isn’t allowing me to file my return because I get this message: “1040/1040SR Wks: Charitable contributions: Charitable contributions has an unacceptable value.”

[gloriah5200]

Here is something to try in your return to try to clear the error you are receiving of "unacceptable value in the charitable contributions".

Please verify the entry in the box where you entered the $300 cash charitable contribution amount in your return.

Be sure there are no extra spaces in that entry in the beginning of the numeric entry or at the end of the numeric entry.  The only entry is a numeric one and of the correct amount for the cash charitable contributions.

[Pavel456]

If I list 250 as the amount of cash contributions, I don't get the error message. But if I list 300 as the amount, I get a message that the amount is too large.

[rosarioramos788]

I am getting the same error message. 'Tried different amounts and it won't accept any. I am unable to file electronically due to this error. Please advice.

[MaryM428]

There was an known error with that screen that has now been corrected.  But to get it to work on your return go through all of the following steps in order.  This will make the program go through the right steps to add the $225 credit to your standard deduction.

1. Click Deductions and Credits
2. Select Review/Edit
3. Click Edit to the right of Standard Deduction ​​Click OK, Sounds Good
4. Click Wrap Up Tax Breaks
5. Click Continue
6. Make sure that $225 is filled in and then click Continue
7. Click Lets Keep Going

[wearwt]

I am still getting this same message when I try the steps entering 300 and then tried again with 299.  Both come up with the same error.

[KrisD15]

The steps are a bit different for Online than for Desktop

TurboTax ONLINE

Click Tax Tools on the left side bar

Click Tools from the drop-down

Click the "Topic Search" box on the screen

Type or scroll down to    standard deduction and exemptions

Click GO 

The next screen gives you an option to change your selection from Standard to Itemized and back. You do not need to change your selection

Scroll down to the bottom of that screen and click CONTINUE

The next screen is the Charitable Cash Contributions under Cares Act screen

IF YOU ARE CLAIMING STANDARD DEDUCTION enter the amount of cash contributions you made, up to  300

IF YOU ARE ITEMIZING DEDUCTIONS enter 0

Scroll down and click Continue

Click Continue on the next screen

DESKTOP

Go to Step-By-Step input

Click Federal

Click Deductions & Credits along the top

Click “I’ll choose what I work on”

Edit or Update Donations to Charity in 2020 if needed, then click “Done with Charitable Donations”

Scroll down the “Your 2020 Deductions & Credits” screen and click “Done with Deductions”

Click Continue on the “Let’s Check Your Deductions and Credits” screen

Continue through the following interview questions until you get to the “Here Are Your 2020 Deductions & Credits” screen

Click Continue

If the next screen says “The Standard deduction is Right for You!” click Continue

ON THE NEXT SCREEN enter the cash contribution made in 2020 and click Continue

Your 1040 should update

[wearwt]

The online steps work well until I get to the review portion of the software and I get the following:

According to the 'Your Tax Breaks page, I am using the Standard Deduction.

[ReneeM7122]

This is a known software issue.  The workaround is to delete the $300 in the error check. Then go back to Deductions & Credits and enter the contribution there, in the Donations to Charity topic. Then click Done with Donations and proceed through the screens until you get to the screen that tells you that TurboTax has added in the contribution.

The contribution will be back on Form 1040 line 10b, but it won't be flagged as an error. It only gets flagged if you enter it when prompted after you finish Deductions & Credits and the software tells you that you are getting the standard deduction. It will not get flagged if you enter it in Donations to Charity.

If this doesn't solve the issue, please try the following:

1. Click Deductions and Credits
2. Select Review/Edit
3. Click Edit to the right of Standard Deduction
   ​​Click OK, Sounds Good
4. Click Wrap Up Tax Breaks
5. Click Continue
6. Make sure that $300 is filled in and then click Continue
7. Click Lets Keep Going

 If the error persists: 

1. In TurboTax select Federal in the panel on the left
2. Select Deductions & Credits at the top of the page
3. Under Your Tax Breaks - Charitable Donations, follow the prompts
4. Click START to the right of Donations to Charity in 2020
5. Click YES
6. Click ADD next to Money
7. Type in the name of the charity that you donated to
8. Type the amount of the donation
9. Select Done with Donation
10. Select Done

Now the deduction should appear on Line 10B and in the Charitable Contributions screen.

 How the CARES act changes deducting charitable contributions made in 2020

Previously, charitable contributions could only be deducted if taxpayers itemized their deductions.

However, taxpayers who don't itemize deductions may take a charitable deduction of up to $300 for cash contributions made in 2020 to qualifying organizations. For the purposes of this deduction, qualifying organizations are those that are religious, charitable, educational, scientific or literary in purpose. The law changed in this area due to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

Keep in mind, it is very important to keep records of your charitable contributions.  If the IRS asks about them later, they will be denied if you don't have a record, receipt, letter, etc.

[jengaga23]

I have the same problem and have tried everything you suggested and it isn't working. What am I supposed to do about Intuit's software glitch? Thanks. 

[KathrynG3]

To get past this issue, TurboTax will need to update. It interprets any entry in the CARES Act Charitable Donations section as an override if it was entered before entering any donation information.

Try doing this in TurboTax:

Step 1: Delete the Charitable Organization donation sheet

• From the left menu, select Tax Tools.
• Select Tools.
• Scroll to Delete a Form.
• Scroll to Charitable Organization and select Delete, Delete Selected Form, and Continue.
• Select Federal from the left menu to return to your program.

Step 2: Re-add the Charitable Organization cash donation entered.

• Enter Charitable contributions in the search box.
• Select the Jump to link in the search results.
• Answer the questions in the interview.
  • Only Money donations count toward the above-the-line deduction when taking the standard deduction.
• Complete the interview process by answering all donation questions and scrolling to the end of Deductions & Credits to select Wrap up tax breaks.
• Select Continue at Based on what you just told us, the Standard Deduction is best for you.
• At Charitable Cash Contributions under Cares Act, you will see your full cash contributions already input in the box. Do nothing to this cell. Select Continue and Continue.

This process will allow you to claim up to $300 for all taxpayers except married filing separate, who would each have a maximum of $150 without itemizing deductions in 2020.

For more information, see IRS Charitable Contributions Deductions.

[Ayla62]

This is the only one that worked - apparently you have to identify the organizations you gave the $300 in cash too and then it shows up correctly on the 1040

[DaveF1006]

No. if done correctly as KathrynG3 has specifie, it is not necessary to record the organization where the contribution was made.