Charitable Contributions for Non-Itemizers - Tax Year 2021

[doug_w]

TurboTax Deluxe 2021 does not apply the $300/$600 max cash charitable contribution for non-itemizers.  The CARES Act specifies that you can take a $300 ($600 joint returns) charitable contribution even if you are using the Standard Deduction.  Please fix the software to allow for this exception.

[DoninGA]

The TurboTax software for tax year 2021 has been updated for the $600 charitable contribution when filing a joint tax return and using the Standard Deduction.

Update your software -

Click on Online at the top of the desktop program screen

Click on Check for Updates

[doug_w]

My software shows that it is up to date.  On the Federal Review tab, it shows the following:

Donations to Charity - You Entered $600, You're Allowed $0.  Then a link "Why the Difference?"

[rjs]

If you click the "Why the Difference?" link, what does it say?

Are you sure you are not getting itemized deductions?

[doug_w]

If I look at the Forms view, the contributions are posted properly on 1040 line 12b.   This appears to just be an error on the Federal Review tab.  Below is the verbiage from the link.

Why the Numbers Are Different - Charitable Donations Deduction

Here's why you might not get the full amount of your charitable donations deduction:

- You're taking the standard deduction.
TurboTax gives you the standard deduction if it's bigger than the total of all your itemized deductions. Because the charitable donations deduction is an itemized deduction, you'll see $0 if your standard deduction is bigger than your total itemized deductions.

[Critter-3]

Still just a glitch in the program ... more updates to come before the return can be filed sometime in January.

[agoeth]

Why is the 1040 form not correctly inputting the 600.00 for married filing joint return and using the standard deductions?  Can override the number but still does not calculate.

[agoeth]

The software updated just now and still has 300.00 instead of 600.00.

[Vanessa A]

Log into your account and go back through the credits and deductions section.  Walk all the way through, hitting continue.  When you get to the final review section you will see the amount due decrease or the refund amount possibly increase.  You can also see the updated amount using forms mode in TurboTax Desktop or if you are using TurboTax online by clicking the following:

• Tax Tools
• Tools
• View Tax Summary
• Preview My 1040
• Scroll down to line 12 box b and you should see it says $600

[doug_w]

Just downloaded 1/12/22 update and issue has still not been resolved.  Using step-by-step, entered $600 for Charitable donations (MFJ).  Checked 1040 form view and verified that line 12b shows $600.  After running Federal Review, it changed the amount on both the 1040 worksheet and line 12b to $300.

[BillM223]

Are you using the Online product or the CD/download product?

The $600 deduction works on the Online product (I just did it). I am using the Standard Deduction, I gave $700 in cash to the Visiting Nurses Association. Nothing showed up at first in 12b on the 1040, but after I ran the Federal Review, $600 appeared on line 12b, as it should have.

On the CD/download product, there is an update due today (1/13/2022) on Schedule A, which may or may not affect your results.

If you are using the CD/download software, let's see what the next update brings.

@doug_w

[doug_w]

I am using the CD/Download Desktop product (Tubotax Deluxe for Windows).  I will report back after the next software update.

[KrisD15]

PLEASE NOTE,

When using TurboTax Desktop, you may need to run through the review process for the correct amount of Charitable Contribution to show on the 1040.

The steps below are for TurboTax Online users:

If you entered "Donations to Charity in 2021" under Deductions & Credits, you may need to delete that entry before switching to taking the Standard Deduction and the “above the line” "Charitable Cash Contributions under Cares Act". 

Click Deduction & Credits on the screen, and scroll down to "Donations to Charity in 2021" and click EDIT/ADD

Delete all entries

Click "Done with Charitable Donations" when all entries have been deleted.

NEXT:

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 if you are taking the standard deduction and the charity cash contribution.

Please verify that you are selecting the Standard Deduction on that screen

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  600 if Married Filing Jointly

Scroll down and click Continue

Click Continue on the next screen

[Edited 01/14/2022 I 1:47pm PST]

[briloop]

I have the same problem. I am filing MFJ, taking the standard deduction. I entered more than $600 worth of cash charitable contributions. The program will only give me a $300 deduction.

I am using TurboTax Home and Business for 2021, download version, working on Mac desktop. Software up to date as of January 16, 2022.

[doug_w]

When using TurboTax Desktop, the review process is what changes line 12b from the correct amount of $600 to an incorrect amount of $300 (MFJ). You can manually override during error correction process; however, once you re-run the review process, line 12b reverts back to $300.