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Level 2
posted Jan 26, 2023 11:40:35 AM

California Charitable deductions 2022

I am using the desktop version. I take the standard deduction for Federal but itemize for California. Why doesn't my charitable contributions (which I cannot take for Fed) automatically show up as an adjustment to Federal Itemized deductions on Schedule CA? Every other adjustment is entered automatically.

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6 Replies
Expert Alumni
Jan 26, 2023 1:11:24 PM

If you entered your Charitable Contributions in the Deductions & Credits section in the Federal return in the Desktop version, and you didn't get credit for them in the Federal return because your itemized deductions were less than your Federal standard deduction, then the Contributions should appear on California Schedule CA in Part II - Adjustments to Federal Itemized Deductions and on Line 18 of Form 540. 

 

If your California itemized deductions were less than your California standard deduction, then the standard deduction will appear on Line 18 of Form 540.

Level 2
Jan 26, 2023 1:31:16 PM

Let me try again:

1) I entered my Charitable Contributions in the Deductions & Credits section in the Federal return in the Desktop version

2) I didn't get credit for them in the Federal return because your itemized deductions were less than your Federal standard deduction

3) I am itemizing my deductions of my California return

4) THE CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE NOT SHOWING AS AN ADJUSTMENT on California Schedule CA in Part II - Adjustments to Federal Itemized Deductions and on Line 18 of Form 540

(It will allow me to enter the adjustment manually. It should enter the adjustment automatically, just like it did with every other adjustment to Federal Itemized Deductions).

WHY NOT??????

Expert Alumni
Jan 26, 2023 2:10:45 PM

Thank you for the clarification.

 

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. You can send one to us by following the  directions below:

 

  1. Open your return.
  2. Click the Online tab in the black bar across the top of TurboTax and select “Send Tax File to Agent
  3. 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.  

Level 2
Jan 26, 2023 2:17:27 PM

Your token number is: 1054725

Expert Alumni
Jan 26, 2023 3:06:30 PM

Thank you. The diagnostic file confirms that the charitable contributions entered are included in the total itemized deductions for California.

 

In Part II of Schedule CA:

 

Line 17, Column A, includes the charitable contributions entered plus the taxes that would have been allowable on the Federal return.

 

Line 17, Column B, shows the state income taxes that aren't allowable as a California itemized deduction.

 

Line 17, Column C, shows the taxes that weren't allowed on the Federal return due to the State and Local Tax (SALT) limitation.

 

The total California itemized deductions allowed, which are the total of Line 17A less Line 17B plus Line 17C, are shown on Line 18 of Schedule CA Part II and on Line 18 of the California Form 540. 

 

 

Level 2
Jan 26, 2023 3:41:24 PM

Thanks!