How can I fix my 1040/1040SR charitable contributions to an acceptable value? I am putting 300 in 10b, and TurboTax keeps say it's an unacceptable value.

[cneral1221]

I can't edit any other value besides 10b.

[DanaB27 · Accepted solution]

Please follow these steps to enter the charitable cash contribution for 10b (do not enter it under Deduction & Credits in the Charitable Donations section):

1. Login to your TurboTax Account 
2. Click "Federal" from the left side of your screen
3. Click “Deductions &Credits” on the top
4. Scroll all the way down and click the "Wrap up tax breaks" button
5. Continue until the "Charitable Cash Contributions under Cares Act" screen
6. Enter your charitable cash contributions. 

To verify your entry:

1. Click on "Tax Tools" in the left menu
2. Click "Tools"
3. Click "View Tax Summary" in the Tool Center window
4. Click on "Preview my 1040" on the left

[cneral1221]

This is great, and I'm closer, but still not able to file. I put "300" as my charitable contributions, but when I wrap up e-filing, it says "Cash charitable is too large," and prompts me to fill a box between 10a and 10b. Is 300 too large of a number for this box? I thought it was the max that I could claim on top of my standard deduction.

[Cynthiad66 · Accepted solution]

You are correct that you can claim the $300 on top of the standard deduction.  However, there is a problem with the Contributions section of the Itemized deductions and also the above the line $300.00 deduction.  You cannot file your return yet because not all forms have been finalized by the IRS and we cannot submit the return.  You will not have to do anything else with the deduction, you just need to wait and when it is ready be sure to check to see if contributions reflect as you want them to be show.  Just check back as often as you like every few days.  We do not have an expected date yet.

Because of the many changes due to the CARES Act, IRS is still developing the forms and publications on this issue.  Last update was January 13th where everything is still in draft.  Once IRS finalizes the forms, we will be able to update TurboTax to accurately reflect your Contributions deduction.

Here are some of the changes due to the CARES ACT

The new legislation allows tax deductions on two types of charitable gifts. First, it allows up to $300 given to a qualified charity to be claimed as an above-the-line deduction. After the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which went into effect in 2018, increased the standard deduction, many taxpayers had less incentive to donate to charities. Instead, they took the standard deduction and stopped itemizing.

For taxpayers who will itemize deductions, the CARES Act effectively suspends the limit on deductions for cash contributions to public charities for 2020.  “That allows individuals to completely wipe out their AGI, and their tax liability, with a charitable contribution.

[cneral1221]

Excellent, thank you for the clarity. I'll check in next week.

[warmstrongatl]

All of these answers assume that you are using the online TurboTax. I am using TurboTax 2020 on my iMac. None of the solutions work with the iMac version of the program. The links the "solutions" tell you to click on do not exist in my desktop version. HELP!!!!

Bill Armstrong

[orhanozbek]

hi

Mine is same too. Please let me know If you find any solution!

Thank you

[cneral1221]

Hi Bill,

It looks like we're just waiting for the form to be fixed on Turbo Tax. I'm checking back next week.

[orhanozbek]

When you will fix this issue? Can you please help? 

Thank you. 

[Jax1050]

Hello I am having the same problems here.
I have tried to follow the directions from the expert.

However it does not work ..I have read that there is a software problem is this true?

Should I wait a few days and try again?

I have put in $300 and it also rejects this.

It also wants me to check a box that says something about Fines??

I am using Turbo Tax Deluxe at my home.

Please help

Fred

[orhanozbek]

I don't know if our problem is the same but I think I fixed mine. Let me explain you;

First of all I click "Federal" from the left side of your screen, click “Deductions &Credits” on the top. You will see Donations to Charity in 2020. Mine Donations to Charity in 2020 is $2. So I added $2 in Charitable Donations box. Then I fixed it like this way. Try this way and let me know please.  I hope it works

Orhan Ozbek

[KathrynG3]

This result occurs depending on the sequence of charitable donation entry details. Donations must first be entered regularly before answering the question about the extra above-the-line CARES Act deduction.

Return to the Donations section of your return, remove your entry in the CARES Act Charitable Donation screen, and enter it first in the regular charitable donations section.

The extra cash donation is allowable up to $300 for all taxpayers except married filing separate, who would each have a maximum of $150.

To do this in TurboTax, follow these steps:

• First, enter in the charitable donation amount as you normally would.
  • From the left menu, select Federal.
  • Select the second tab from the left across the top, Deductions & Credits.
  • Scroll down to Charitable Donations.
  • Enter your details.
• When finished entering all donations, select Done with Charitable Donations and Continue.
• Scroll to the end of Deductions & Credits and select Done with Deductions.
  • You may need to respond to any other additional questions. You will eventually see: The Standard Deduction is Right for You! 
  • Click Continue.
  • Now, you will see Charitable Cash Contributions under Cares Act where you will see any qualified contribution amount already entered from your earlier posts. Select Continue.
    • If you have entered something else in this field, delete it so that TurboTax will calculate it automatically.

For more information, see IRS Charitable Contributions Deductions.

@Jax1050

@orhanozbeck

@cneral1221

@warmstrongatl

[falco060]

Hello Cynthia,

When we login to check will we just know it's fixed by refreshing the "review" area and seeing the alert regarding it go away? Just trying to understand if I'll have to redo any of the info to get the form working.

[Jax1050]

Kathryn,

Thanks everyone for the help.

I tried to follow the instructions best I can.

The only way I can get it to work is to enter $100 in line 10a and enter $100 in line10b

Then I get no errors ...but it does reduce my state return by $10.

And increase what I owe to the Feds by $24.

So not sure what to do...I guess I'll just live with it.

At least there is no errors.

Thanks for the help.

Fred

[KrisD15]

Below is my steps to fix, and also the way to check to see if it has been fixed:

If you are using TurboTax Desktop, you MUST switch to Step-By-Step mode (top right corner)

TurboTax ONLINE

Click Tax Tools on the left side bar

Click Tools from the drop-down

Click the "Topic Search" box on the screen

Type or scroll down to    standard deduction and exemptions

Click GO 

The next screen gives you an option to change your selection from Standard to Itemized and back. You do not need to change your selection

Scroll down to the bottom of that screen and click CONTINUE

The next screen is the Charitable Cash Contributions under Cares Act screen

IF YOU ARE CLAIMING STANDARD DEDUCTION enter the amount of cash contributions you made, up to  300

IF YOU ARE ITEMIZING DEDUCTIONS enter 0

Scroll down and click Continue

Click Continue on the next screen

DESKTOP

Go to Step-By-Step input

Click Federal

Click Deductions & Credits along the top

Click “I’ll choose what I work on”

Edit or Update Donations to Charity in 2020 if needed, then click “Done with Charitable Donations”

Scroll down the “Your 2020 Deductions & Credits” screen and click “Done with Deductions”

Click Continue on the “Let’s Check Your Deductions and Credits” screen

Continue through the following interview questions until you get to the “Here Are Your 2020 Deductions & Credits” screen

Click Continue

If the next screen says “The Standard deduction is Right for You!” click Continue

ON THE NEXT SCREEN enter the cash contribution made in 2020 and click Continue

Your 1040 should update

To verify in TurboTax Online  

click “Review” if necessary, in order to get Tax Tools on the left side bar

Click Tax Tools on the left side bar

Click Tools on the drop down list

Click “View Tax Summary” on the “Tools Center” screen

When the next screen appears (Review Tax Summary) ON THE LEFT SIDE BAR you should see “Preview my 1040”

Click “Preview my 1040” on the left side bar

Scroll down to line 10b on the 1040.

@falco060

@Jax1050