topic Change Maryland Tax Return to Itemize in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Change Maryland Tax Return to Itemize

user17717087473 — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 21:22:10 GMT

My federal return is set to "itemize deduction" but Turbo Tax online automatically sets my Maryland state return to "standard deduction". I understand the state law passed in 2025 will reduce my itemized amount but I still need to itemize on the state return. How can I change the state return to "itemize" manually (it is not automatically doing this in line with the federal return)?

Re: Change Maryland Tax Return to Itemize

MDHokie — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 03:31:41 GMT

I am also seeing this same error in TurboTax Desktop 2025. In past years it would always switch the state return to match the deduction method used in the federal return (as is required by Maryland law).

This appears to be a bug.

Re: Change Maryland Tax Return to Itemize

user17717087473 — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:43:03 GMT

Actually, upon further review I think the software is defaulting to the standard deduction for MD due to the new law that MD passed in 2025 that phases out itemized deductions above certain income levels. After doing the math manually that makes sense, because my itemized deduction is completely eliminated by the phase out rule. It would still be nice if Turbo Tax gave you the option between the two and then just popped up a warning explaining why you shouldn’t itemize vs just forcing you into standard without an explanation.

Re: Change Maryland Tax Return to Itemize

AmyC — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 01:05:20 GMT

We at Intuit TurboTax want our users to be completely delighted with their experience using our products and services, and successful in their financial lives and businesses.

Once you file your return, as long as the settings to receive communication from Intuit don’t block it, you will see a pop-up message or receive an email with a survey asking you about your experience. We encourage you to leave your notes and comments there. “Voice of the Customer” notes and comments are read and acted upon.

If you are using TurboTax Desktop, you can also leave feedback at the Final Steps tab.

Re: Change Maryland Tax Return to Itemize

tara2223 — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 03:38:07 GMT

Is there a fix on how to update state deduction? At this point, I can’t even get into my state return to edit, but I was never given the question on whether to use itemized or standard deductions. It just assumed standard which is incorrect even by the new MD phase out law. This has been the worst year with bugs in the online version.

Re: Change Maryland Tax Return to Itemize

user17724076434 — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 23:32:31 GMT

That is diabolical that Maryland changed their tax law to phase out the itemized deduction. We were forced to 'couple' our return to the Federal Return that resulted in having to pay more MD state taxes. Now that we get some Federal relief because of the increase in the SALT limit from 10,000 to 40,000, Maryland is penalizing us again. I need TurboTax to allow me to select between Standard or Itemized and generate a screen that says that I cannot Itemize even though I itemized on my Federal Return because I exceeded a threshold for my records.

Re: Change Maryland Tax Return to Itemize

tara2223 — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 23:51:02 GMT

Is there any way to handle this with the Online version?

Re: Change Maryland Tax Return to Itemize

AmyC — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:34:46 GMT

It sounds like you are well aware of the many new rules for MD which include the new state phase-out for itemized deductions. MD TY25 changes pages 3-4 show the chart of income vs itemized deductions.

I think you are saying that you need to do a standard deduction due to your income and not seeing how to do it online. I also do not see that option but feel the program should be that smart.

I would like to take a deeper look at this. However, I need a diagnostic file which is a copy of your tax return that has all of your personal information removed. Please notify me by adding @AmyC to your response. If I discover a solution, I will reply. Otherwise, it will be moved on to an investigation team.

You can send a token to me by following the directions below:

TurboTax Online:
Sign into your online account.
Locate the Tax Tools on the left-hand side of the screen.
A drop-down will appear. Select Tools
On the pop-up screen, click on “Share my file with agent.”
This will generate a message that a diagnostic file gets sanitized and transmitted to us.
Please provide the Token Number that was generated in the response.

TurboTax Desktop/Download Versions:
Open your return.
Click the Online tab in the black bar across the top of TurboTax and select “Send Tax File to Agent”
This will generate a message that a diagnostic copy will be created. Click on OK and the tax file will be sanitized and transmitted to us.
Please provide the Token Number that was generated in the response.

@tara2223 or @user17724076434

Re: Change Maryland Tax Return to Itemize

tara2223 — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 17:40:00 GMT

No, that is not the case. I itemized on Federal and it has automatically has me as standard deductions for state with no way to change to itemized. Based on the MD law, I’m still able to itemize. This is a bug in Turbo Tax Online and from my research was also an issue last year.

Re: Change Maryland Tax Return to Itemize

RogerD1 — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 22:08:38 GMT

I've been using a mock return in TurboTax and have been working with several scenarios with varying amounts of Federal itemized deductions and the only time it switched to a standard deduction for Maryland was when it was more beneficial to do so.

While Federal deductions for state and local income taxes are allowed, they must be subtracted out of the Federal itemized deductions to arrive at the Maryland itemized deduction. If your only Federal itemized deductions were state and local income taxes, this could be why you are getting the Maryland standard deduction on your return.

It would be really helpful if you followed the instructions for sending the diagnostic file (as outlined in AmyC's post, earlier), so that we can take a much closer look at your particular situation to see if we can figure out why you might be getting a Maryland standard deduction when itemizing Federal.

Re: Change Maryland Tax Return to Itemize

user17741544670 — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 04:46:59 GMT

What is the status of getting this issue fixed? April 15 is not far away. I itemized my Federal return. My income is under the MD phase out amount. My Federal Itemized Deduction - State & Local Income Taxes is much bigger than the MD Standard Deduction.

Re: Change Maryland Tax Return to Itemize

krelged — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:58:49 GMT

This will allow you to compare standard versus itemized deductions to see which is better. Open the Info Worksheet form and mark the first question below as Yes and then check the result on page 3 of Form 502.

I found a way to change MD from standard to itemized. It is done indirectly by using the "Info Worksheet" form, Part IV, :

3. "Do you want to itemize even if itemized deductions are less than the standard deduction?"

4. "Do you want to take the standard deduction even if less than itemized deductions?"

‎

Re: Change Maryland Tax Return to Itemize

user17761295121 — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 01:48:57 GMT

Thanks for the tip on how to get TT to show Md itemized expenses. However in my case (Home Business desktop version), even after backing out the state and local real estate taxes not allowed by Md. and also reducing the excess FAGI amount by the 7.5% phaseout amount my remaining itemized allowable deductions are still much higher than the Md. standard deduction which unfortunately TT does not show the net of $14,199. The following is what is shown in TT form 502:

form 502 ln 17b $28,111

form 502 ln 17C $13,912

TT ln 17 deduction amount is $0 when it should show $14,199 which is much higher than the $6,700 standard deduction. TT certainly is not allowing the user to take itemized Md deductions. Unless there is another way, it certainly seems that TT has a bug for the Md. state.

If anyone has any last minute work arounds, please let me know.

Re: Change Maryland Tax Return to Itemize

user17761295121 — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 01:47:28 GMT

Interesting in that I did not type in "bleep"

Re: Change Maryland Tax Return to Itemize

DaveF1006 — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 21:40:15 GMT

It depends on what your Line 17A amount is Form 502. Line 17 deduction amount is that you take Line 17A and then subtract the total of 17B nd 17C. If the totals of 17B and 17C exceed 17A, then the standard deduction amount is higher.

Line 17A is the total federal itemized deductions reported in the federal return. If you haven't reported any itemized deductions in this section, then do so just so it will populate in the Maryland 502 Form. it doesn't matter if there aren't enough deductions to itemize. You are entering this for informational purposes and to help complete your Maryland return.

Re: Change Maryland Tax Return to Itemize

user17761295121 — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:54:01 GMT

Thanks for clarifying Dave F,

I understand now. TT is doing the calculations and picks the best deduction (itemized or standard). Understandable that there was not a lot of time to do the programming but it would be more transparent if TT would show the standard vs itemized steps as it does for the federal. This would show the tax change in Maryland made in December for what it clearly is: A subtle tax increase to those with FAGI over $200K. All while the govenor stated that there was no tax increase in an election year.

Peace.

Tim