House payments and property tax and one contribution have been entered but Turbo Tax shows no change in my Federal refund. Is something wrong with the Turbo Tax software?

[bellschoolgrad]

I have entered my income; Turbo Tax shows a small federal refund. I have entered the interest included in my mortgage payments for 2018 and the property tax I paid and one sizeable charitable contribution, but Turbo Tax is still showing the same Federal refund.  Is something wrong with the Turbo Tax software?

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

Tax reform is what is affecting you.  Your standard deduction is nearly doubled from last year, and the amount you can deduct for state and local taxes including your property tax and sales tax is limited.

Your itemized deductions have to be more than your standard deduction before you will see a change in your tax owed or tax refund.  The deductions you enter do not necessarily count “dollar for dollar;” many of them are subject to meeting  tough thresholds—medical expenses, for example, must meet a threshold that is pretty hard to reach.  The software program uses all the IRS rules that apply to the expenses you enter, and it tells you if you have enough to use your itemized deductions or if using the standard deduction is more advantageous for you.  Under the new tax laws, some deductions have been capped—there is a $10,000 limit to the itemized deductions for state, local, property and sales taxes. 

2018 Standard Deductions:

Single   $12,000  (+ $1600 65 or older)

Married Filing Separately    $12,000  (+ $1300 65 or older)

Married Filing Jointly  $24,000  (+ $1300 each spouse 65 or older)

Head of Household  $18,000  (+ $1600 65 or older)