Does TT Take into account Federal AND State to recommend itemized vs standard

[carlosn]

TT tax recommended that I utilize the Federal standard deduction since it was higher than my itemized deduction by about $2000.

I live in VA, where whether you itemize MUST be the same on the state as on your federal return.

As far as I can tell for VA it would be better to itemized - and the reduction in tax is more than the increase in tax at the federal level for itemizing.

Does TT not look at the whole picture in determining whether to itemize or not?  Or did I miss some sort of check?

[AliciaP1 · Accepted solution]

No, TurboTax does not look at your state calculations when determining whether to itemize or take the standard deduction for Federal purposes.  You can change it though by:

1. Within TurboTax Home & Business go to the Deductions and Credits tab under Personal in your return
2. Scroll to the bottom of the list of Deductions and Continue
3. Click Continue once TurboTax has completed the analysis
4. Click Continue through any additional questions there may be
5. Once you get to the The Standard Deduction is Right for You! page, click the box for Cange my deduction
6. You can then choose to itemize for your Federal return