Schedule A is the form used to itemize. Schedule A is used to determine if you qualify for the itemized deduction or the standard deduction. TurboTax will select the method that gives you the best and biggest outcome. The different TurboTax programs may show it differently. For instance, you indicated that ". . . home mortgage interest paid is being included in the calculation in determining standard deduction or itemized." This is correct and what it does.
Your next comment was "I purchased TurboTax CD from Costco to use and re-inputted my information into a downloaded TurboTax. This version is not including home mortgage interest and my refund is thousands of dollars less." TurboTax CD you purchase did the same thing, it just may not have shown the calculation, it just chose the standard deduction.
In order to itemize you, itemized deductions must total more than the standard deduction. The standard deduction for filing:
- Single/Married Filing Separate is $12,550.
- Married Filing Joint is $25,100.
- Head of Household is $18,800.
Depending on your filing status, your itemized deductions must total more than the amount for that filing status listed above. Otherwise, TurboTax will choose standard deductions.
In summary, it appears your itemized deducts did not exceed the standard deduction for your filing status. The return would be correct.
If the CD version is showing less than the online version, did you go back and double-check your entries in the online version. To be less than what the online version gave you, then something is not entered the same between the two programs,
