Charitable Contribution Error on California CA(540) and 540

[engrolsonjr]

So are you doing mail instead? How do we know the mail is accurate?

[Jetfan]

@engrolsonjr No one should have to mail in their State. TT should provide a fix. 

[engrolsonjr]

Problem is, it does not seem like TT acknowledge this issue as critical. I feel like a fix may never come.

[anigurophrat]

Keep in mind this thread started last year.

[Oxf911]

*POSSIBLE FIX*

All, I finally got my state return (CA) accepted. I had submitted three times previously and was rejected each time. Please see below:

From what I can gather the CACharitable_Hold reject reason comes from the STANDARD DEDUCTION on your Federal Return putting the standard $300 Charitable amount. Even if you enter $0 for charitable amounts, the Standard Deduction will auto fill $300 at submission. This is not editable with the online version on TT. It is only editable in the offline version, where you can enter the forms and replace the $300 with a $0.

I am using the online version. I finally got my state return accepted by editing the “Other” section (under State Return, within wages, credits/adjustments.) There the page will open up to 3 columns where you can enter the item, and whether it’s an addition or subtraction to your wages. I labeled the item “Standard Deduction - Charitable CA” and put in the $300 as a subtraction.

On my CA return this shows on row 9a under Deductions in the amount of $300. This worked for me, and hopefully works for anyone else willing to give it a shot. Good luck!

[Jetfan]

@Oxf911  Did that reduce your federal refund number? And was $300 the actual charitable number you initially used? 

[Oxf911]

I took the Standard Deduction, and am using the online version of TT.

The Standard Deduction will populate $300 on your Federal Return. It’s a given amount for taking the Standard Deduction.

You can edit this field to $0 in the offline (desktop) version of TT, but not t he online version.

To make up for the $300 that shows on my Federal Return given to me for taking the Standard Deduction, I edited that amount under “Other” on my State Return and labeled per my previous response.

This made my Federal and State returns match. I believe the rejection is happening because the $300 given on the Federal Return is not carrying over to State, and thus the returns don’t match and gets rejected.

[Rebar08]

You have to fix it on the federal form, that will fix the state and then you can refile. I just did it today and it was approved in minutes!!

[imsrk]

Finally I am able to get my CA return accepted. My Federal was already accepted and approved.

For those who want to know how I did it.

I m using Desktop Version.  I am doing Standard Deduction and had $XXX amount.

Problem is TT asks us did we do any Charitable donations even after we say Standardized.

It says $600 joint we don't need receipt. When we give the amount, it deducts that amount.  But it doesn't get transferred to STATE return.  

Solution:

I went to my Federal Return and I made same $XXX entry under Charitable Donations section (even though I am doing only Standard Deduction). It populated the STATE return correctly.

Because I made the same $XXX entry under Federal and I am doing Standard Deduction, my Federal Return did not change. I think this is similar solution was discussed in Page 1 of this thread. 

Now I am going to wait to see if CA process my return or not. But at-least I crossed one barrier. If CA send me corrected Return, thats ok too.

It shameful that Intuit TT IT team havent fixed this issue for more than one year? What a waste of time for everyone. Will definitely evaluate different options next year. Enough of these TT guys. Once we pay only then we can file and I expect definitely better support for Paid Premier Versions.  

[ah94]

After deleting state and re-doing it yesterday morning and re-filing, my status has been pending.

I suppose that's better than the rejected I kept getting within one or two hours. 

Hoping it goes through this time. If not, I will zero out federal and try that way. 

Also, I will never use TurboTax again. This is ridiculous. We paid for this service. 

[Moonish821]

Thank you, but I am waiting for a fix from TT. As a premier service subscriber, it is not our job to find fixes or to go out of our way (like mailing in the docs). 

[ask123]

Pretty confident that TT's numbers are going to plummet because of this next tax season. No one's going to want to use them and after this I'm switching next year.

[NadoGray]

I just spent about 45 minutes on the phone with a rep who said she would try to escalate the problem, but couldn't contact anyone to help directly.  She said she would have someone call me.  I mentioned ALL the response to this problem on the forum.  I have been poking around the CA FTB site, but I am trying to figure out if I need to file my federal with my state refund.  Apparently we can eFile directly to the state.  Perhaps one of you techie people can figure out what to do.  https://www.ftb.ca.gov/file/index.html

The site says eFiled with receive a refund in 3 weeks - mail will take 3 months.

On a positive note,  I received my federal refund in the bank today.  I filed just last Friday - only a week ago.  That is pretty good!  

[Jetfan]

Update:  Refiled yesterday without making any changes.  Rejected again today.

[anigurophrat]

@JetfanBummer. I refiled yesterday as well. Patiently waiting for a rejection so I can take a different route.