I have total Itemized Deductions of $29,697 (joint tax return with my wife), yet Turbotax selects the Standard Deduction of $24,800. Tried overriding but cannot. Why?

Why is TT defaulting to the Standard Deduction for our joint return when the itemized expenses for Schedule A are nearly $5K more? TT is not allowing me to select Itemized Deduction to override either. Very strange.

625

Expert Alumni

Mar 15, 2021 3:46:44 PM

It may be that the total of your itemized deductions is more than the allowable itemized deductions. For instance, you can only deduct $10,000 of state income/property taxes as itemized deductions on your federal return. Also, medical expenses are only deductible to the extent they are over 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income.

So, it may be that your allowable itemized deductions are less than your standard deduction, but your total itemized deductions are more.

Level 2

Mar 15, 2021 9:24:38 PM

Thomas,

Check out the screen capture below which shows what I mean. TTax is defaulting to the Standard Deduction for a married couple of $24,800, but why would TTax ignore the larger itemized amount? TT seems to have a bug in here, since while it shows me that larger itemized amount, it will not allow me to select that (and it even ignores the $29, 727!). Appreciate any guidance or feedback.

Expert Alumni

Mar 16, 2021 8:39:13 AM

There is another possibility, that your income is low and that your standard deduction is sufficient to eliminate it. Also, if that is all you withheld, that is all you would get back, apart from refundable credits.

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I have total Itemized Deductions of $29,697 (joint tax return with my wife), yet Turbotax selects the Standard Deduction of $24,800. Tried overriding but cannot. Why?