topic Re: charitable contribution deduction error in Deductions & credits

How do I report an error in turbo tax 2021 premium?

EC2of5 — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 17:32:52 GMT

1040-SR line 12B is not automatically filling in the allowable charitable contribution deduction when you take standard deduction. there doesn't seem to be a way to manually fill it in either.

Re: How do I report an error in turbo tax 2021 premium?

VolvoGirl — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 17:42:37 GMT

Just wait for a program update. There will be many updates. And you can't file until late January or February.

Re: How do I report an error in turbo tax 2021 premium?

mlh9 — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 18:36:02 GMT

It is now January 26the and the error in line 12b is still there, I cannot finalize my taxes due to this error.

Re: How do I report an error in turbo tax 2021 premium?

mlh9 — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 18:37:59 GMT

12b "self populates" with $300 (should be $600) when you change it to the correct amount it defaults back to $300 then reports as an error. It is now January 26th and it has not been fixed.

Re: How do I report an error in turbo tax 2021 premium?

JamesG1 — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 13:54:41 GMT

@mlh9

TurboTax online requires that you pass through sections Deductions & Credits and Other Tax Situations.to make sure that you qualify for the standard deduction. Try deleting with the methods listed below and reenter.

Federal 1040 line 12b Charitable Cash Contributions under CARES Act can be entered at either:

Deductions & Credits / Donations to Charity or
at the screen Charitable Cash Contributions under CARES Act immediately following Based on what you just told us, the Standard Deduction is best for you.

However, always pass all the way through both Deductions & Credits and Other Tax Situations.

At Deductions & Credits, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Wrap up tax breaks.

At Other Tax Situations, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Let’s keep going.

Remove the entry at Donations to Charity in 2021 by deleting the entry.

Remove the entry at the screen Charitable Cash Contributions under CARES Act by entering a $0.

Re: charitable contribution deduction error

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 21:27:23 GMT

Seems like this is an on-going error for the 2021 tax year again. Now Jan 27, 2022 with latest/today's update to TT Windows desktop deluxe.

It changes the MFJ $600 charitable contribution back to $300 and subsequently gives an error as "unacceptable value". I manually change it to $600 in line 12b to correct it, and the software again changes back to $300 and throw the error again. Standard Deduction, MFJ. Stuck in a loop unfortunately. And there was a similar issue last year based on what I read here. Here is the screenshot.

There is only one "workaround": To delete ALL of my charitable contributions. I know from the Tax Return perspective it does not matter, but I prefer to have it included just for annual comparisons and worksheet record keeping.

Re: charitable contribution deduction error

DawnC — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 22:06:00 GMT

You don't need to delete anything. You just have to click through a few more screens to get your deduction to show up on Line 12b. Right now, TurboTax does not know if you are taking the standard deduction or if you are itemizing deductions. To clear this up in TurboTax and get your deduction recorded on your tax return, do the following.

Click on Personal Income at the top of the desktop software.
Then choose Deductions and Credits.
Pick I'll Choose What I Work On.
Scroll all the way down and click on Done with Deductions. **This button triggers the CARES ACT follow up questions.

You will get some follow-up finalizing questions before you see the message - The Standard Deduction is Right For You! Continue clicking through those screens, verifying your donations and your charitable contribution should then show up on line 12b of your Form 1040 as $600. @Anonymous

Re: charitable contribution deduction error

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 23:01:10 GMT

Thank you @DawnC

Unfortunately your suggestion does not work. I have tried it every which way possible and end up in the same unfortunate circle! I am very technical and financial/TT savvy. Our disconnect is in the following area where you wrote:

RE: **This button triggers the CARES ACT follow up questions.

It does not! As long as I have added items in the Charitable Donations section, the CARES ACT followup question does not come up, in none of the subsequent screens or ever! It only comes up if-and-only-if I delete my Charitable Donations items - based on my multiple attempts and testing.

TurboTax 2021 Deluxe Windows Desktop - update of Jan 27, 22

Regards.

Re: charitable contribution deduction error

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 23:10:21 GMT

I found what breaks it: Once the [California] State review section is completed successfully, the value in the 1040 changes from $600 to $300 !!!

Re: charitable contribution deduction error

ghoofie — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 15:26:57 GMT

Yep. And every time you do anything that has to do with states, you have to go through the itemize section again. What I don’t know yet is once you you have the error cleared can you go straight to file. I’m waiting to see if and update will happen before filing.

Re: charitable contribution deduction error

LindseyLO — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 17:15:06 GMT

Thank you for your patience. We are aware of this issue and are working to get it resolved.

Re: charitable contribution deduction error

ghoofie — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 05:16:23 GMT

When

Re: charitable contribution deduction error

EbonyA — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 15:30:12 GMT

We are currently working on a resolution and as soon as we have an update we will be sure to provide it @ghoofie.

Re: charitable contribution deduction error

TheRealTax2 — Sat, 05 Feb 2022 08:36:11 GMT

Having the same exact issue - keeps changing back to 300. I can manually change it back to 600 but it changes back to 300 when rechecked.

Re: charitable contribution deduction error

JohnB5677 — Sun, 06 Feb 2022 16:03:48 GMT

There have been several references to the workaround. This has worked for many people.

First, you must clear all donations from the Deductions & Credits input screen

In the Desktop version:

Go to Deductions and Credits
Scroll to the bottom of the page
Select Done with Deductions
Let's check your Deductions .. Continue
Here are your 2021 Deductions ... Continue
The Standard deduction is right for you ... Continue
GET A TAX BREAK FOR DONATING CASH TO CHARITY
Enter your amount

Online version

Go to Deductions & Credits
Scroll to the very bottom
Select Wrap up Tax Breaks (Online)
Continue through the interview to
Charitable Cash Contributions under Cares Act
Enter your donation.

Re: charitable contribution deduction error

TheRealTax2 — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 02:32:44 GMT

Changing value back to 600 at the error window and then skipping 2nd check worked. I was able to e-file while maintaining the 600 value on the fed 1040. I would advise that you read your state tax form instructions to be sure you're not required to adjust for the 600 deduction if you take this route. My state didn't mention it, unlike last year where the 300 contribution had to be added back on state return. Good luck guys.

Re: How do I report an error in turbo tax 2021 premium?

Reshel — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 21:03:27 GMT

One of the hell are you going to update TurboTax to get rid of this error I always used TurboTax and a very very disturbed I probably would not use it again they used to be a good tax program now I think it may be drunk I'm going to retry it again try to notify me when the latest update is out

Re: charitable contribution deduction error

jd2tx — Sat, 12 Feb 2022 22:14:49 GMT

I finally was able to get the correct amount to show for line 12b on form 1040-SR for married couple filing jointly. The problem now is that line 12c is to be the total of 12a plus 12b. It shows noting on the copy to be e-filed with the IRS. In the past if a line was to be completed and left blank, the IRS rejected the return. How do I get the total of 12a and 12b to populate onto the tax form? It shows on the worksheet, but not final form. Wasted too much time trying to get this charitable deduction corrected when TurboTax should have corrected the software error.

Re: charitable contribution deduction error

JohnB5677 — Sun, 13 Feb 2022 16:44:53 GMT

@jb2tx Please clarify what you see on your 1040-SR

12a Standard Deduction

12b Charitable contributions

12c Add lines 12a and 12 b

Is 12c blank?

Re: charitable contribution deduction error

jd2tx — Sun, 13 Feb 2022 17:51:27 GMT

It is blank but I managed to finally figure out to correct the problem WITHOUT the assistance of TurboTax. Tech support for the computer glitch that you are not acknowledging is absolutely terrible this year.