Charitable contribution has unacceptable value

[bleacherblondernp]

This is still an issue a whole year later. What in the world???

[DougLS]

I've been using Turbo Tax for 10 years or so.   How long does it take to fix such a simple coding error?

[DoninGA]

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@DougLS wrote:

I've been using Turbo Tax for 10 years or so.   How long does it take to fix such a simple coding error?

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I am running TurboTax Premier for Windows Version 021.000.0415 and only see this error if I entered a Charitable Donation in the Deductions & Credits section and only eligible for the Standard Deduction.

To remove the error I went into Forms mode and deleted the Charitable Organization Worksheet.  Then on the Form 1040 Worksheet for Line 12b removed the $300 amount so Line 12b is now blank (empty).

Going back to Step-by-Step I completed the Deductions & Credits section without entering anything for a charitable donation.  Continuing through the screens until landing on the screen labeled Charitable Cash Contributions under Cares Act, I entered $600.  Continued through Final Review without error.

For the TurboTax online editions -

The problem appears to be that a charitable donation was entered in the Deductions and Credits section of the program when you are only eligible for the Standard Deduction.

Click on Tax Tools on the left side of the online program screen

Click on Tools

Click on Delete a form

Scroll through the all the forms, schedules and worksheets listed and delete all the Charitable Organization forms listed.

When completed with removing forms click on Continue With My Return at the bottom of the list.

Click on Federal on the left side of the screen

Click on Deductions & Credits at the top of the screen

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on Wrap up tax breaks

Continue through the screens.  After the screen showing that you are getting the Standard Deduction the following screen is Charitable Cash Contributions under Cares Act.  Enter $600 if filing Jointly or $300 for all other filing status'.  The federal review and the Final Review should no longer show an error for the charitable donation.

[AmyC]

 Only cash donations are qualified for the $300/ $600 above the standard deduction credit. The program must go through the final review before it will accept the charity correctly. Use cash donations and go through the review process.

@DoninGA answer just popped up! Fabulous!!

[timhorst]

It is 1 year later and this problem is still persisting. I am stuck in a never ending cycle of fixing this number when it is entered correctly as 300.

What is going on over there???

[DoninGA]

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@timhorst wrote:

It is 1 year later and this problem is still persisting. I am stuck in a never ending cycle of fixing this number when it is entered correctly as 300.

What is going on over there???

---

I am running TurboTax Premier for Windows Version 021.000.0415 and only see this error if I entered a Charitable Donation in the Deductions & Credits section and only eligible for the Standard Deduction.

To remove the error I went into Forms mode and deleted the Charitable Organization Worksheet.  Then on the Form 1040 Worksheet for Line 12b removed the $300 amount so Line 12b is now blank (empty).

Going back to Step-by-Step I completed the Deductions & Credits section without entering anything for a charitable donation.  Continuing through the screens until landing on the screen labeled Charitable Cash Contributions under Cares Act, I entered $600.  Continued through Final Review without error.

For the TurboTax online editions -

The problem appears to be that a charitable donation was entered in the Deductions and Credits section of the program when you are only eligible for the Standard Deduction.

Click on Tax Tools on the left side of the online program screen

Click on Tools

Click on Delete a form

Scroll through the all the forms, schedules and worksheets listed and delete all the Charitable Organization forms listed.

When completed with removing forms click on Continue With My Return at the bottom of the list.

Click on Federal on the left side of the screen

Click on Deductions & Credits at the top of the screen

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on Wrap up tax breaks

Continue through the screens.  After the screen showing that you are getting the Standard Deduction the following screen is Charitable Cash Contributions under Cares Act.  Enter $600 if filing Jointly or $300 for all other filing status'.  The federal review and the Final Review should no longer show an error for the charitable donation.

[BK2000]

@DoninGA 

Your unconventional approach works - it is a workaround of course.  So here is the follow up question:  Would IRS have a problem if I have taken the $600 charitable donation (MFJ) deduction without having anything listed in the Charitable Donation section?

[DoninGA]

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@BK2000 wrote:

@DoninGA 

Your unconventional approach works - it is a workaround of course.  So here is the follow up question:  Would IRS have a problem if I have taken the $600 charitable donation (MFJ) deduction without having anything listed in the Charitable Donation section?

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The Charitable Donation section is only a part of the TurboTax program.  It would include the donations on Schedule A as an itemized deductions.  But since you are using the Standard Deduction the donation is only entered on the Form 1040.  The IRS does not require proof of the donation with the filed tax return.  Only if the IRS ever would question the donation at a later date and send an inquiry in the mail would you have to prove the donation was valid.

[ldlittman]

Well, it is 2022...seriously.. please fix this! I have Home and Business and none of your fixes work. I'm wasting so much time trying to fix this!! Who can I call that can walk me through this. I've been a loyal customer for decades and I've never had do much trouble as I am with the software this year.

[DaraLO]

@ldittman We are looking into this matter.  In the meantime, please try this workaround posted by community member, @DoninGA

[ldlittman]

okay..this is so time consuming!  I deleted all the work of itemizing my contributions..all the forms are now DELETED.  I scrolled through all the options...I NEVER found the cares act one where I can input the amount of my donations. I have Home and Business...where is it????  This work isn't even worth the few bucks I save on my taxes. Last year I didn't have this problem at all.

[DaveF1006]

Here is how you will enter this in your Home and Business version. First you must clear all donations from the Deductions & Credits input screen.

1. Go to Personal> Deductions and Credits>choose what you work on.
2. Scroll to the bottom of the page
3. Select Done with Deductions
4. Let's check your Deductions .. Continue through this section until you reach the page that says Here are your 2021 Deductions  Continue
5. The Standard deduction is right for you  Continue
6. GET A TAX BREAK FOR DONATING CASH TO CHARITY
7. Enter your amount

[cal10]

Please continue to look at this as there is no way around it. I'm using the desktop version and have tried ALL of the workarounds that people suggest.  One of the problems is that it continues to default to single deduction (300) when you need to put in joint (600). It says the correct amount in some other screens, but keeps overlaying whatever you put in there.  I have used tt for years and never had a breaking issue like this that would actually stop you from filing using the tool

[kirtpeterson]

I tried all that, I still get an error message, this time on line 12a instead of 12b:

"Cash charitable must be less than or equal to zero"

[kirtpeterson]

Just to clarify, I attempted to reply to DaveF1006