Charitable donations - getting an error message

[Hap4]

I itemized my charitable donations, it came to $1800.  I am taking the overall standard deductions married filing jointly.  When I went to review my return it had an error on the 1040 form line 10b.  I tried to put in the standard deduction for donations of $300 in the error section that popped up but it is still giving me an error.  How do I enter the $300 standard deduction for donations and get rid of the error?  Thanks!

[RayW7 · Accepted solution]

For 2020, you are allowed to deduct up to $300 ($150 if Married filing Separately) of cash donations to 501(c)3 organizations even if you do not itemize your deductions.

In order to take this above-the-line deduction, enter your donation(s) under Deductions & Credits > Charitable Donations > Donations to Charities in 2020.  The deduction will be added above-the-line by TurboTax after you have completed the Wrap up tax breaks interview in TurboTax if you take the Standard deduction.

On your form 1040, this deduction appears on line 10b - Charitable contributions if you take the standard deduction.

-follow this link for more information-

How Does Your Charitable Giving Measure Up? - TurboTax ...

[Hap4]

Thank you for your help!

[whabibe]

I keep getting the $300 error message under charitable donations.  The proposed work around instructions provide in the forum don't work.

**bleep** doesn't work even after removing any and all charitable donations please help.

whabibe

[whabibe]

Your solution doesn't work

[Cynthiad66]

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.

[djgibboni]

There is a persistent error that prevents me from e-filing. It's apparently a well known bug but it remains unresolved.

1040/1040SR Wks: Charitable contributions: Charitable contributions should be blank.

Charitable contributions 0.00

Worksheet image, Form 1040, Line 10a, "Enter the smaller of these cash contributions made or $300on line 10b below if you take the standard deduction.

"0." entered on both lines.

I'm itemizing deductions.

There appears to be no solution that fixes this error, which prevents me from e-filing my return.

[DaveF1006]

Go to federal>deductions and credits. Scroll through the screens until you reach the screen telling you that itemized deductions are right for you. In the next screen, remove the zero and leave this amount blank. 

[pemvapor]

HELP!! This charitable contributions thing is not allowing me to efile. No matter what I do, or what figures I put in. I have taken the standard deduction

[KathrynG3]

To get past this issue, return to the Deductions & Credits section. If there is a value in the Cares Act area that you entered previously, delete it. It first must be entered in the regular Charitable Donations area.

To qualify for the Cares Act above-the-line deduction up to $300 for all taxpayers except married filing separate, who would each have a maximum of $150, for standard deduction filers, the IRS clarifies that the contribution must be:

1. a cash contribution;
2. made to a qualifying organization;
3. made during the calendar year 2020

To enter charitable donations in TurboTax Online, follow these steps, which will resolve the Check this Entry:

1. From the left menu, select Federal.
2. Four tabs will appear across the top of your program. Select the second tab, Deductions & Credits.
3. Scroll to Charitable Donations and select Start to begin. 
4. Answer Yes to Do you want to enter your donations for 2020?
5. For each donation, follow these steps:
   1. Enter who the donation was to at Let's enter your donations one at a time and indicate what type of item was donated, either an Item, Money, Stock, or Mileage and travel expenses
   2. Follow the prompts from there, and enter the amount of the donation 
   3. When finished, select Done with This Donation.
6. Select + Add Another Donation if you have additional entries and Continue. 
7. Next, to trigger the extra deduction screen, run through all the deductions and credits and click Wrap Up Tax Breaks again to trigger the Cares Act Charitable Donation screen so that it will automatically calculate. Leave this cell blank. The information entered in the regular area will be calculated and the maximum allowable deduction will be added.

Otherwise, to resolve Check this Entry, try deleting any charitable contribution related forms and re-entering your details, if any, by following these steps:

1. From the left menu, select Tax Tools.
2. Select Tools.
3. Scroll to Delete a Form.
4. Scroll to Charitable Contributions and select Delete and Delete Selected Form and Continue.
5. Scroll to the bottom of the next window and select Continue With My Return.
6. Return to the Deductions & Credits section for Charitable Donations and re-enter the information. 

@pemvapor