Itemized Deduction vs Standard Deduction

[DKB59]

I am filing single using TurboTax Deluxe.  My itemized deductions are higher than the standard deduction; however, TurboTax is defaulting to the standard deduction and not showing the itemized deductions on Schedule A.  Schedule A does not even show up in my Forms.  The next screen states TurboTax has Chosen Itemized Deductions for me.  I cannot select Itemized Deductions.  What is the solution to this issue?

[angiemichelletaylor]

I'm having this exact same issue... UGH. I'm still waiting on one more form, so hopefully this is a software issue that will get fixed. Following for other responses. Thanks. 

[VolvoGirl]

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...

If you are a dependent your Standard Deduction may be less.  But not less than $1,100 minimum.

[SteamTrain]

Where you said "TurboTax has Chosen Itemized Deductions"   I think you meant "TurboTax has Chosen Standard Deduction" ....other wise you wouldn't need to choose Itemized if Itemized was already selected.

____________________________________

We had a case of this the other day....where the person hadn't yet put in all, or maybe any of their income yet.  So if you haven't put in all your income...wait until that is done before you decide there's a problem.

Why? Because if you have really low income (or haven't put it in yet), the Std Ded appears to be forced since it is to the user's advantage, and itemized is a waste of time/effort.    Say you were a single person with 12,000 of income and 20,000 of itemized deductions.  The Std Ded wipes out all that income and a zero taxable income results.....yeah, 20,000 is more, but you can't have a negative income, dn if you did use itemized...any state refund would be taxable Federal income the next year, where it wouldn't be if the Std Ded was used.

(but it's true that I'm just rationalizing a possible explanation about the above)

_______________________________________

Now, if you have put in all of your income, and not in the situation described above.

Then maybe you are wrong about the how high your Itemized ded actually are.

1) only a max of 10,000 of State income taxes (or Sales taxes) +PLUS Property taxes will be included in the "Itemized" total

2)  Medical expenses must exceed 7.5% of your AGI....and only the $$ that exceed the 7.5% of AGI threshold will be included in your "itemized" total.

[DKB59]

I cannot find the Tax Tools search you are referring to below.  I have he DCD version.  Is that different?

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

[macuser_22]

For the desktop use the "Search Topics" box.

[DKB59]

No that is what is confusing - on the prior screen, TurboTax did choose the Standard Deduction.  On the next screen it says Turbo Tax has chosen Itemized deductions for me.  That's why I think this is a software issue.  I should at least be able to change it from one to the other to compare and decide.  The itemized deductions do show up higher that the standard deduction but I cant change it.

[macuser_22]

You can check the actual amount of itemized deductions by using the Search Topics for "itemized deductions, choosing" (under "My Account, Tools" in the online versions). 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.