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

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
February 4, 2021
1 reply
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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.”

TurboTax Premier Online

gloriah5200

Level 10

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.

Pavel456Author

Level 2

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.

ReneeM7122

Level 9

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.

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:

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

If the error persists:

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