Check This Entry won't take the Cash Charitable I entered, why not?

To write off any cash contributions, no matter how small, you need a canceled check, bank record or a receipt with the charity's name and donation amount. That means that putting cash in the church collection plate or the Salvation Army bucket is a no-no if you want to be able to take a deduction for it.

As with all deductions, timing is everything. You can take the deduction for your contribution in the year that you make it.

• For example, if you mailed a check to your favorite charity on December 31, you can write it off on that year's tax return.
• If you charge the donation on a credit card, the write-off is claimed in the year the charge is made, even if you don't pay the credit card bill until the following year.
• But a pledge to make a donation is different: Because it's only a promise to make a future donation, there's no deduction until you actually follow through.

I have a receipt for my donations but that not the issue.   The software won't take my entry?  

Are you in the Federal Review in TurboTax Desktop?

 

I was able to enter the $300 charitable contribution in TurboTax Desktop by following these steps:

• Across the top of the screen, click on Federal Taxes.
• Click on Deductions & Credits.
• At the screen How do you want to enter your deductions and credits?, click on I’ll choose what I work on.
• Across the top of the screen Your 2020 Deductions & Credits, scroll down to the bottom and click Done with deductions.
• Continue until the screen Charitable Cash Contributions under CARES Act.

• Enter your charitable cash contribution.  If you enter more than $300 (Single taxpayer), your deduction will be capped at $300..
• Click Continue.
• Click Done with Other.
• Across the top of the screen, click Review, then Continue.
• After Review is complete, click Step-by-Step in the upper right hand corner of the screen.
• Select Form 1040 in the left hand column to review the entry on line 10b of the 1040.

This TurboTax Help states: 

• For 2020, even if you don’t itemize, you may take a charitable deduction of up to $300 for cash contributions made in 2020 to qualified organizations. 

 

 

 

 

I have done as indicated, but this items keeps coming up for review.  It states the following

Check This Entry

1040/104SR Wks: Cash Charitable is too large.

Cash Charitable 300.

Line 10b has 300.  

I am filing with a status of marrried joint return.

 

Why does this item keep coming up for review?  It isn't going to let me file electronically if this isn't fixed.  Is there a flaw in the program?

 

 

 

Are you using a TurboTax Desktop product?  Are you claiming the standard deduction?

 

In addition to the $300 deducted on line 10b of the 1040, have you added any other charitable contributions here? 

• Across the top of the screen, click on Personal.
• Click on Deductions & Credits.
• At the screen How do you want to enter your deductions and credits?, click on I’ll choose what I work on.
• Across the top of the screen Your 2020 Deductions & Credits, scroll down to Charitable Contributions and click Start / Update.