I'm entering deductions from TurboTax Deluxe, but the Federal Tax Due is not changing. The charitable donations usually decreases my Federal tax Due. Are there new thresholds to meet?

[DoninGA · Accepted solution]

The total of all your itemized deductions, which include charitable donations, on Schedule A must be greater than the standard deduction for your filing status to have any tax benefit.

Standard deductions for 2019

• Single - $12,200 add $1,650 if age 65 or older
• Married Filing Separately - $12,200 add $1,300 if age 65 or older
• Married Filing Jointly - $24,400 add $1,300 for each spouse age 65 or older
• Head of Household - $18,350 add $1,650 if age 65 or older

[VolvoGirl · Accepted solution]

Now that the Standard Deduction is higher many people will be switching to the Standard Deduction.  And there is a max 10,000 limit (5,000 MFS) of property tax and state taxes "SALT".  And you can only deduct Medical that’s over 7.5% of your AGI.

For 2019 the standard deduction amounts are:

Single 12,200 + 1,650 for 65 and over or blind (13,850)

HOH 18,350 + 1,650 for 65 and over or blind

Joint 24,400+ 1,300 for each 65 and over or blind

Married filing Separate 12,200 + 1,300 for 65 and over or blind

If it's giving you the Standard Deduction and  not showing you Schedule A you can check the actual amount of itemized deductions by using by going to

Tax Tools on left

Tools - Topic Search (top left box)

Type in  itemized deductions, choosing.  It should highlight that in the list, click on GO

Then Click on "Change my deduction". That will display the actual amount of itemized deductions vs. the standard deduction.    (Be sure to uncheck "Change my deduction" after checking it so you do not lock in the wrong deduction.

How to change between the Standard Deduction and Itemized Deductions

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/accessing/help/how-do-i-change-from-the-standard-deduction-to-item...

[Carl]

Until the total of all of your *allowed* itemized deductions exceeds your standard deduction, the itemized deductions has absolutely no impact what-so-ever on your tax liability.

SALT (State and Local Taxes) deductions are limited to a maximum of $10,000. Half that if you are married and file separate.

Medical Expenses must exceed 7.5% of your overall AGI before they will be included on SCH A as itemized deductions.

Charitable contributions are at best, only a 50% deductions. There's a fair number of 30% charities out there too, and that limits the amount of your charity contributions that are deductible even more.

W-2 job work related expenses are no longer deductible. This includes a home office.