topic TT used my itemized deduction rather than higher standard deduction ? in State tax filing

TT used my itemized deduction rather than higher standard deduction ?

BigLouGee — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 21:34:40 GMT

Greetings Fellow TTax Users.

Have wage income in two States (VA and VT). Itemized deductions in VA are $3,950 and TTax used that amount rather than the VA Standard Deduction of $4,500. Why is that?

Re relative incomes: VT income is 3.3% of total income and 3.5% of gross income.

Re: TT used my itemized deduction rather than higher standard deduction ?

SteamTrain — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 21:50:50 GMT

While we cannot see your tax returns, nor know your situation....a guess would be:

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VA requires...that if you itemized deductions on your Federal tax return, you must also Itemize on the VA tax return (with additional restrictions if you are married and are filing separately from spouse on your VA tax return) ...Their instructions state:

"Line 10. Itemized Deductions
You must claim itemized deductions on your Virginia return if you claimed itemized deductions on your federal return. If a joint federal return was filed and you are filing separate returns in Virginia (Filing Status 3), itemized deductions that cannot be accounted for separately must be allocated proportionately between spouses based on each spouse’s share of the combined federal adjusted gross income"

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Page 7 of instructions:

https://www.tax.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/vatax-pdf/2019-760-instructions.pdf

Re: TT used my itemized deduction rather than higher standard deduction ?

BigLouGee — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 07:55:47 GMT

Thanks Steam Train! That was it. Both 1040 and VA returns had itemized deductions. I was unable to choose the standard deduction (override) for VA as can be done on the Federal. It would be nice if a TTax comment popped up explaining why i.e. what you said. Cheers