Tax Year Prior to 2020: Charitable Donations

[Carolyn79]

I donated money to charitable organizations in Arizona and the AZ State Tax allows me to take a credit -- which reduces our state tax by the amount of the contribution.  Can we deduct that charity on our Federal Tax return?

[MinhT1]

Charitable contributions can be deducted as an itemized deduction on your federal tax return.

Please note that Itemized Deductions will only "help" when they exceed your standard deduction.

For 2019, standard deductions are:

For a taxpayer under 65, not claimed as a dependent

• $12,200 for Single
• $24,400 for Married Filing Jointly, or Qualifying Widow(er) with dependent child
• $18,350 for Head of Household
• $12,200 for Married Filing Separately
• If you are over 65 or blind, add $1,300 for each instance if married or add $1,650 each instance if single or head of household

[Carolyn79]

Since my contribution on the state tax reduced my state tax by the amount of my contribution is it still deductible on my federal tax form?

[VictorW9]

It will be, if you were able to use the itemized deduction in your federal tax return.

[Carolyn79]

Maybe you can help me with this one -- I can't find a way to type in the question.

On the page in Turbo Tax, "Let's Review Your Numbers", under Federal Tax Summary, the total income for 2018 is way off -- much too high.  How do I correct it?  The other numbers are correct.

[VictorW9]

You said 2018, but I guess you mean 2019. In any case, it really doesn't matter. Apart from wages, your income includes a whole lot of other things: interest; dividends; distributions; pensions; capital gains; rental real estate; and several other items you may not immediately associate with income.

[Carolyn79]

On that page of Turbo Tax Deluxe "Let's Review Your Numbers", it lists income for last year's tax form (2018) and this year's tax form (2019).  Last year (2018)  the total income listed is almost double what we had - this year (2019), it is correct.

I need to correct last's year which should have transferred from my 2018 tax report done through Turbo TAX.  How do I correct?

[DianeC958]

It is not necessary to correct the 2018 information.  This information does not go to the IRS or state it is for informational purposes only.