If you are filing with TurboTax online, let's do these steps:
Then select "File" from the top to proceed.
Note that your charitable donations only affect your refund if you have a LOT of other itemized deductions like mortgage interest and property taxes, etc. In the TurboTax program, when you enter itemized deductions such as mortgage interest, property taxes, medical expenses, charitable contributions, all of these items are added together. Unless the total of itemized deductions exceeds the standard deduction for your filing status, you would not see any change in tax due or refund.
Under the CARE Act, taxpayers can claim an "above-the-line" deduction of up to $300 for cash donations made to charity during 2020. This means the deduction reduces both adjusted gross income and taxable income without itemizing. In the past, you can only benefit the charitable donations on a Schedule A and only if you itemize. To see more information, click here: Charitable donations
It has nothing to do with your Internet browser or your Internet connection or anything else the other guy said. It is TurboTax. I had the same problem. I found what caused the issue is if you delete something turbo tax is not deleting the form associated with it like it is supposed to and it is creating a duplicate form when you enter the correct information. I had duplicate 1099NEC and section c forms. I just deleted all of the 1099NEC and all of the section C and went back and started a new 1099NEC. Worked fine after that. The forms giving you the problem may be different but just go through your forms and look for duplicates, delete all forms that you see a duplicate of (including the original form) and restart that section.
Please try these steps to resolve the charitable contributions must be entered error:
If the error persists, then go through the next work around.
Here is the second work around for claiming the Charity Deduction:
Now the deduction should appear on Line 10B and in the Charitable Contributions screen.
How the CARES act changes deducting charitable contributions made in 2020
Previously, charitable contributions could only be deducted if taxpayers itemized their deductions.
However, taxpayers who don't itemize deductions may take a charitable deduction of up to $300 for cash contributions made in 2020 to qualifying organizations. For the purposes of this deduction, qualifying organizations are those that are religious, charitable, educational, scientific or literary in purpose. The law changed in this area due to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
Keep in mind, it is very important to keep records of your charitable contributions. If the IRS asks about them later, they will be denied if you don't have a record, receipt, letter, etc.
Your fix did not work for me.
"1040/1040SR Wks: Charitable Donations:Charitable contributions must be entered" error appears every time after I add money donation in addition to another non-monetary donation
Please let me know how to fix this
Thanks
This result occurs depending on the sequence of charitable donation entry details. It can be corrected.
Return to the Donations section of your return, remove your entry in the CARES Act Charitable Donation screen, and enter it first in the regular charitable donations section.
The extra cash donation is allowable up to $300 for all taxpayers except married filing separate, who would each have a maximum of $150.
To do this in TurboTax, follow these steps:
For more information, see IRS Charitable Contributions Deductions.
I'm getting this same error/loop around charitable contributions - and these steps above are not resolving it.
I did not answer or see any questions about the "CARES Act," even upon revisiting those sections.
I am not filing with the Standard Deduction.
It keeps telling me I can't leave the 10b field blank, and when I fill it, it says the 10b field HAS TO be blank. So there's no way to fix it!
If you are using TurboTax Desktop, you must switch to Step-By-Step input located on the top right side of the screen.
Then please follow these steps.
DESKTOP
Go to Step-By-Step input
Click Federal
Click Deductions & Credits along the top
Click “I’ll choose what I work on”
Edit or Update Donations to Charity in 2020 if needed, then click “Done with Charitable Donations”
Scroll down the “Your 2020 Deductions & Credits” screen and click “Done with Deductions”
Click Continue on the “Let’s Check Your Deductions and Credits” screen
Continue through the following interview questions until you get to the “Here Are Your 2020 Deductions & Credits” screen
Click Continue
If the next screen says “Itemized Deductions is Right for You!” click Continue
ON THE NEXT SCREEN enter (0) for cash contribution made in 2020 and click Continue
Your 1040 should update
I too have the same problem as @arcarsanel , and have worked through the suggestions to no effect. Since I am itemizing and not using the Standard Deduction, I never see anything regarding the CARES Act. If I override the value on line 10 in the 1040/1040SR Wks with 0 rather than the actual amount of charitable deductions that exceed $300, this seems to clear the errors. For some reason, TurboTax seems to be ignoring that these charitable deductions are part of my itemized deductions. There must be a better way to fix this issue.
Turbo Tax is diligently working on this issue as well as other issues. COVID 19 was an extraordinary event for everyone and Turbo Tax is feverously updating its software to comply with many last minute changes to comply with sudden changes in the tax code.
I do not have TurboTax desktop; we're using TurboTax Deluxe 2020 online.
The steps above don't work or aren't available online. This error is preventing TurboTax from filing my taxes. Should we just wait until this is corrected?
If you are itemizing, the amount on the 1040 line 10b SHOULD be zero, in that case the charitable contributions are taken on your Schedule A.
If you are taking the Standard Deductions and using TurboTax Online, follow these steps.
TurboTax ONLINE
Click Tax Tools on the left side bar
Click Tools from the drop-down
Click the "Topic Search" box on the screen
Type or scroll down to standard deduction and exemptions
Click GO
The next screen gives you an option to change your selection from Standard to Itemized and back. You do not need to change your selection
Scroll down to the bottom of that screen and click CONTINUE
The next screen is the Charitable Cash Contributions under Cares Act screen
IF YOU ARE CLAIMING STANDARD DEDUCTION enter the amount of cash contributions you made, up to 300
IF YOU ARE ITEMIZING DEDUCTIONS enter 0
Scroll down and click Continue
Click Continue on the next screen
I am itemizing deductions. When we follow those steps above, it does not take us to the "Charitable Cash Contributions under Cares Act screen" as the steps suggest. Instead it wraps up that section.
Then, when I try to file, it says there is an error - and whether I leave 10b as zero (as it should be), blank or $300, it will not let me file. Have tried more than a dozen times and it's a loop.
The error says 10b "should be blank," and after I make it blank and save, the messages changes to say 10b "cannot be blank."
Am I doing something wrong? Or is this a problem with the software?
Is this still being worked on for the Desktop version? I'm on a Mac and running into the same issue. Because of all the recent tax changes and TurboTax working to incorporate them into the software, will TurboTax announce once its software has been updated? I don't want to file until I can recheck it with the tax changes. I know it must be difficult to incorporate last minute changes; I appreciate TurboTax's expertise in getting the software up to date. thank you
Yes, TurboTax is working with the IRS regarding software updates for the new changes. The IRS is reviewing implementation plans for the newly enacted American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Additional information about a new round of economic impact payments will be forthcoming.
The IRS strongly urges taxpayers not to file amended returns related to the new legislative provisions or take other unnecessary steps at this time. The IRS will provide taxpayers with additional guidance on those provisions that could affect their 2020 tax return.
TurboTax is developing the software required to process all of the new conditions.
Here is a TurboTax article about the American Rescue Plan.
@Kori1
Hello. I need assistance to clear this error, "1040/1040SR Wks: Charitable contributions: Charitable contributions must be entered."
I am using the desktop version of TurboTax. I my status is Married but Filing Separately. Although TurboTax recommended that I itemize, I have to use the standard deduction because my spouse did. I have tried some of the suggested steps in the conversation string, but I am not seeing any reference to the CARES Act deduction. I cannot clear the cache since this is not the online version. I have tried quitting and restarting the application, but it did not resolve anything. I am not seeing Step-By-Step input at the top right side of my screen. Please provide the steps to clear this error since TurboTax is blocking me from filing my return. Thanks.
Since you are filing MFS, your $300 standard deduction contribution is limited to $150.00. Please enter the $150 amount and that should clear the error.
There is an issue with the contributions deduction and TurboTax is working to fix it. We do not have an estimated date of correction, at this time. I suggest you check back often to see if the correction has been made.
There is a problem with the Contributions section of the Itemized deductions and also the above the line $300.00 deduction. Because of the many changes due to the CARES Act, IRS is still developing the forms and publications on this issue. Last update was January 13th where everything is still in draft. Once IRS finalizes the forms, we will be able to update TurboTax to accurately reflect your Contributions deduction.
Here are some of the changes due to the CARES ACT
The new legislation allows tax deductions on two types of charitable gifts. First, it allows up to $300 given to a qualified charity to be claimed as an above-the-line deduction. After the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which went into effect in 2018, increased the standard deduction, many taxpayers had less incentive to donate to charities. Instead, they took the standard deduction and stopped itemizing.
For taxpayers who will itemize deductions, the CARES Act effectively suspends the limit on deductions for cash contributions to public charities for 2020. “That allows individuals to completely wipe out their AGI, and their tax liability, with a charitable contribution.
I'm a macOS user of TurboTax Deluxe, married-filing-separately. I'm stuck in this same "1040/1040sr wks: charitable contributions: charitable contributions has an unacceptable value" loop. I've tried all the suggestions I've seen posted to no avail.
From the intuit posts it looks like there is a bug. I understand that fixing bugs in software can be difficult and having to coordinate efforts with the IRS must add its' own challenges. What is the best way to keep informed about a fix?
Yes. There is an issue with the contributions deduction and TurboTax is working to fix it. We do not have an estimated date of correction, at this time. I suggest you check back often to see if the correction has been made.
There is a problem with the Contributions section of the Itemized deductions and also the above the line $300.00 deduction. Because of the many changes due to the CARES Act, IRS is still developing the forms and publications on this issue. Last update was January 13th where everything is still in draft. Once IRS finalizes the forms, we will be able to update TurboTax to accurately reflect your Contributions deduction.
Here are some of the changes due to the CARES ACT
The new legislation allows tax deductions on two types of charitable gifts. First, it allows up to $300 given to a qualified charity to be claimed as an above-the-line deduction. After the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which went into effect in 2018, increased the standard deduction, many taxpayers had less incentive to donate to charities. Instead, they took the standard deduction and stopped itemizing.
For taxpayers who will itemize deductions, the CARES Act effectively suspends the limit on deductions for cash contributions to public charities for 2020. “That allows individuals to completely wipe out their AGI, and their tax liability, with a charitable contribution.
So .. do we just wait, crossing our fingers that there's going to be a fix? Would like to file my taxes but this is preventing me. Seems pretty naive to think this will be fixed in time. Is there no workaround? I could file these just fine before I entered my charitable contributions.
Are you wanting to file using the standard deduction and the Charitable Cash Contributions under CARES Act or itemizing deductions on Schedule A? Or do you not yet know?
If you are in TurboTax Online, the screen Charitable Cash Contributions under CARES Act appears as the end of Deductions & Credits. First you have to pass the screen Based on what you told us, the standard deduction is best for you at the end of Deductions & Credits.
But you have to qualify for the standard deduction before the screen appears. So you may want to change the value of one or more itemized deductions to $1 so that you qualify for the standard deduction.
Follow these steps: