I keep choosing itemized deduction but program keeps choosing standard deduction.

[Ctole003]

My itemized deduction is more than the standard this year so I've been selecting that option. But the program keeps reverting back to the standard deduction which is resulting in a higher tax amount due. Why is this?

[JulieS]

If you click on the Credits and Deduction tab, and then scroll down to the bottom and click Continue, in a couple of screen you will get to a screen that looks like the image below.

The program will pick the better option, if you agree, click Continue. If you don't agree with the option selected, click on Change my deduction.

Another possibility is, if you are filing married filing separately, you are required to itemize or not the same as your spouse.

[Ctole003]

Thank you for the reply. 

I am filing Single. And Yes, I've been selecting "Change my deduction" then selecting "Itemized deductions Tax due: $xxx" then click Continue. But when I get to the screen that shows the tax amount due, it's showing me the amount if it's a standard deduction. When I click "Why do I owe $xxx" and scroll down, it says that I am choosing Standard Deduction again. 

[DawnC]

Did you enter anything for the Cares Act $300 cash donation question?   When you preview your Form 1040, what does it show on Line 12?    Also, trying restarting your browser and/or clearing your cache (if you haven't already)

To preview:

1. Open or continue your return.
2. Select Tax Tools in the left menu (if you don't see this, select the menu icon in the upper-left corner).
3. With the Tax Tools menu open, you can then:
   • Preview your entire return: Select Print Center and then Print, Save, or Preview This Year's Return (you may be asked to register or pay first).
   • View only your 1040 form: Select Tools. Next, select View Tax Summary in the pop-up, then Preview my 1040 in the left menu.

[Ctole003]

Hello Dawn,

Checked my line 12b and it does show a $300 amount there. I've read that other people have been having the same issue so I went back to the charitable donations section of my return, deleted everything and inputted all the information again. But I never got a message about the Cares act. I'm not really sure where that is coming from in my return and how to delete/fix it.

[JamesG1 · Accepted solution]

Make sure that you pass through the sections Deductions & Credits and Other Tax Situations when entering or removing the contribution.

Federal 1040 line 12b Charitable Cash Contributions under CARES Act can be entered or removed at either:

• Deductions & Credits / Donations to Charity or
• at the screen Charitable Cash Contributions under CARES Act immediately following Based on what you just told us, the Standard Deduction is best for you.

Remove the entry at Donations to Charity in 2021 by deleting the entry.

Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Wrap up tax breaks.

You will see the screen Based on what you just told us, the Standard Deduction is best for you.

At the screen titled Charitable Cash Contributions under the CARES Act, make sure that the box contains the amount of the deduction for which you qualify.

At Other Tax Situations, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Let’s keep going.

Go to Tax Tools / Tools / View Tax Summary / Preview my 1040 to view line 12b for the charitable deduction.

[Ctole003]

Thank you James! That worked.

But my question now is, when I'm on the screen where there's 2 bars: one for itemized deductions and another for standard deductions, I'm seeing tax due under Itemized deductions (the one I'm selecting) is different from the Federal tax amount due on the top left corner. It's not a  big difference, only $30, but why is there a discrepancy? 

[KrisD15]

Please clarify:

Is your Itemized Deduction within $300 of your Standard Deduction? 

Standard Deduction for Single is 12,550 

Does your Itemized Deductions show as 12,849 or less? 

If so, the Standard Deduction plus the 300 charitable contribution deduction (12,550 + 300 = 12,850) is more than choosing Itemized.