If your state income taxes withheld are greater than your sales taxes, TurboTax selects the greater amount.
State income taxes and sales taxes are itemized deductions entered on Schedule A.
The total of all your itemized deductions on Schedule A must be greater than the standard deduction for your filing status to have any tax benefit.
Standard deductions for 2023
Single - $13,850 add $1,850 if age 65 or older
Married Filing Separately - $13,850 add $1,500 if age 65 or older
Married Filing Jointly - $27,700 add $1,500 for each spouse age 65 or older
Head of Household - $20,800 add $1,850 if age 65 or older
That's the thing.. When I go through the sales tax deduction guide, TurboTax states that the sales tax deduction would provide me the greater benefit. I select it, but it goes back to the state and local tax deduction would be better. Its as if the online program is stuck. I even try to force it and it still goes back, even though it literally states the sales tax deduction would be better...