How do I get this fixed? When I select to switch to Itemized Deductions, it doesn't update my amounts. It stays at the Standard amounts no matter how I toggle between.

If your itemized deductions are greater than the Standard Deduction, TurboTax will automatically use the itemized deductions on your Schedule A. 

Some deductions are subject to limitations, so this could have changed what was the most beneficial deduction in your tax situation. 

If you need to review your deductions or force the use of Itemized Deductions, please follow the steps below: 

1. Open your return.
2. Click on Tax Tools on the left-hand side.
3. Click on Tools.
4. Click Topic Search. 
5. Search "itemized deductions, choosing"
6. Click on Change my deduction.
7. Choose Itemized Deductions under Which deduction do you want to take this year? 

Hi Lena,

Thank you for your reply. This is the same page that doesn’t work. I select @Itemized from “@Change my deduction” and it doesn’t change. It has itemized selected, but won’t update the amounts refunded/due at the top no matter how many times I re-select, toggle, refresh, or log back in. It appears to be a @bug. 

If you are still getting an error, it would be helpful to have a TurboTax ".tax2021" file that is experiencing this issue.

You can send us a “diagnostic” file that has your “numbers” but not your personal information. If you would like to do this, here are the instructions: Go to the black panel on the left side of your program and select Tax Tools. 

1. Then select Tools below Tax Tools. 
2. A window will pop up which says Tools Center.  
3. On this screen, select Share my file with Agent. 
4. You will see a message explaining what the diagnostic copy is. Click okay through this screen and then you will get a Token number. 
5. Reply to this thread with your Token number. This will allow us to open a copy of your return without seeing any personal information.  

We will then be able to see exactly what you are seeing and we can determine what exactly is going on in your return and provide you with a resolution.

@brittany-jo-bate

Thank you, Lena.  My token number is 907151.

I reviewed your tax file and the standard deduction is $18,800 and your total itemized deduction is $16,265. It automatically is choosing the best deduction for you, which would be the standard deduction. I manually calculated your mortgage interest, property taxes, and state withholding and it summed to the figure of $16,265. The other credits and deductions you get (example: child and other dependent tax credit) go on other areas of the return and aren't part of the itemized deductions. 

Please let me know if you have any further questions.  

@brittany-jo-bate

Hi Lena,

Thank you for your reply.  My TurboTax is telling me something different.

I took another look at your token. I'm sorry for the confusion previously.

When I take a look at your Schedule A, Itemized Deductions, it shows an amount of $25,286 as your itemized deductions. I also see you have contributions in the amount of $9,683. This year, if you take the standard deduction, you also get to deduct an additional $600. This would make your standard deduction be $25,700, which is higher than your itemized deductions and most beneficial in your tax situation.

If you using the election to take a charitable deduction of up to $600, on top of using the standard deduction, you cannot enter this through the Itemized Deductions screens. 

Please follow the steps below to enter your charitable contribution in the correct place in TurboTax :

1. Open your return. 
2. Click Federal from the left side of your screen.
3. Click Deductions &Credits on the top of the screen.
4. Scroll down and click the Wrap up tax breaks button.
5. Continue until you reach the Get a tax break for donating cash to charity screen.
6. Enter your charitable cash contributions of $600. 

@brittany-jo-bate

I'm not seeing that page, and I tried doing it under both itemized and standard as my selected deduction. How do I find that?  How do I get the standard deduction to show the $25,700?  I'm still having the issue with the toggle between selecting itemized or standard because it stays with the standard amount shown as the refund in the top even after selecting itemized (just to see).

The standard deduction will show $25,700 on your return once the $600 is entered. I am doing a mockup return in TurboTax Online as well as TurboTax Desktop. What page in the instructions above do you not see so I can assist you further? 

To check your deduction on your actual tax form, please follow the steps below:

1. Click on Tax Tools on the left-hand side
2. Click on Tools
3. Click on View Tax Summary
4. Click on Preview my 1040 on the left-hand side
5. On Form 1040, Line 12c, you should see the amount for the $25,700 once the $600 is inputted

@brittany-jo-bate

Thank you for those instructions.  I do see the $25,700 on the 1040.  

The page I'm having a hard time finding is this one:  Get a tax break for donating cash to charity.  Once I find this and add the $600, will this impact the standard refund?

I do see on the 1040 that it has the $3085 as the refund, which is the same as what is listed as the Standard refund.  But the amount on the deduction page for itemized is $3126.  I'm curious what the difference is, and why I'm not able to toggle.  

If you see the $25,700 on the 1040, then you already entered the $600 on the screen Get a tax break for donating cash to charity. That is the only screen designated to enter the contributions on top of the standard deduction. You do not have to add this again because it is already on your 1040 for the full amount. 

The refund with the greater standard deduction should be greater than the refund with the itemized deduction. Can you screenshot me the screen in which you are seeing the $3,126 and the $3,085? Please redact any PII. 

@brittany-jo-bate

Thank you again for all of your help.  Here is where it shows that Itemized it of greater benefit to me.  In addition, I have Itemized selected, but as you can see, the refund amount only reflects the Standard.

You would need to delete any cash donations you listed under "Deductions & Credits" "Charitable Donations"

NEXT go through the REVIEW process, the program will ask for the cash donation which can be up to 300 or 600 if filing Married Filing Joint. 

You may not see this question until the very END of the FINAL REVIEW.

At that time you should see the adjustment in your refund.   

Hi Kris, Thank you for the reply.  I went through even my state return and never got asked about the cash donations (after deleting them from my charitable contributions).  

For Clarification:

Does the charity donation show on your 1040 line 12b? How much? 

Does the 1040 show Standard or Itemized Deductions? What is the amount of line 12a and line 12c? 

Are you using TurboTax Desktop or TurboTax Online? 

Did you click Continue after the  "Tax Summary for 2021" screen? 

Hi Kris,

I have $25,100 on 12a, and $25,400 on 12c.  I have no cash donations entered under "Charitable Donations," and I'm Married Filing Jointly.  I'm not sure where the $300 input itself since I was never prompted, but it also should be $600.

Based on the information you provided, you do not have enough deductions to itemize. The standard deduction is accurate, however since you did not have any cash contributions on the return you will not get the deduction of $600.00  I suggest adding the $600 as cash contributions.  I mean add it if you actually had cash contributions.

Also try this, clear your history, cookies and cache then reboot your computer.  Sometimes this clears the loop.

Cookies are small files that temporarily store data on your computer. We use them to personalize your experience so you see information you already entered and not items that are irrelevant or repetitive.

On rare occasions, they may make your browser think you already did something that you still need to do. To fix that, you'll need to delete (clear) the cookies from your browser.

Each browser has a slightly different method for deleting cookies. Choose the browser you're using:

• Internet Explorer
• Mozilla Firefox
• Google Chrome
• Safari
• Safari for iOS (mobile devices)