Can I carry over Charity donation from 2018 to 2019?

[Leonard · Accepted solution]

Yes, if you itemize your deductions you can carry over unused Charity donations from 2019 to 2020.

Generally, your charitable deduction is limited to 60% of your adjusted gross income.  Any unused charity donation can be carried forward for 5 years.

[Edited 03/10/2020 | 8:24 am PDT]

[jbelansky]

If I do not use my charitable donations and take the standard deduction in 2019, do I still report my charitable donations in 2019 so they can be potentially be used in the future?  Or don't report them at all in 2019?

[VictoriaD75]

You can only carryover charitable contributions if they were limited by the AGI limits. If you take the standard deduction and do not itemize, you do not have the capability of carrying over any unused charitable contributions, and they will not apply to your Federal return.

However, depending on your specific state tax laws, it may benefit you to enter them on your Federal return, as they may apply to your state.

[Connie74]

How do I make the election to defer some charitable donations?

[MinhT1]

@Connie74

You cannot make the election to defer some of your charitable donations.

Only when your charitable contributions exceed 60% (or 30% for some classes of organizations) of your AGI, will the excess be carried over for up to the next 5 years.

[slbordel]

how do I locate the ability to do this? I have some carryover from 2018, and have to use the desktop version of TT Deluxe 2019. I don't see an option to claim carryover.

[Critter-3]

If you did not transfer the 2018 info to the 2019 return then it was not carried automatically ... so you have to make the entry yourself.  Look in the Charity section of the Deductions & Credits tab ...  it is hiding in plain site ...

[IR1000]

I used standard deduction in 2018 and 2019 but have over $9000 cash charitable donations each year, can I roll over in 2020 taxes since itemized deduction is recommended this time?

[Critter-3]

No ...  it is a use it or lose it situation .... only unallowed deductions on the previous year Sch A (due to income limitations)  can be carried forward.