Smart Check 1040/1040SR was. Charitable contributions: Charitable contributions should be blank.

[bobi456]

Check this entry

1040/1040SR was. Charitable contributions: Charitable contributions should be blank.

B: Charitable contributions if you take the standard deductions. 12: $$$

Smart Check says this should be blank.

However …

12 a) there is the same $$$ amount and it says:

Enter the smaller of these contributions made or $300 ($600 if filed jointly) on line 12b below if you take the standard deduction.

So it appears the form is filled out correctly but Smart Check is saying it is wrong.

Is this a glitch or was something entered wrong elsewhere?

Thank you.

[JamesG1 · Accepted solution]

Are you saying that you are receiving an error message or that the wrong amount is being reported on line 12 (of the 1040?)?  Please clarify.

It sounds like there was a Federal 1040 line 12b Charitable Cash Contributions under CARES Act entered when your tax return qualified for the standard deduction.  Now that you want to remove that entry?  Is that correct?  If so, the $300 contribution was likely entered under the second option listed below.

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

• Federal Taxes / Deductions & Credits / Your tax breaks / Donations to Charity in 2021 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.

If you qualify for itemizing your deductions, you want to change the amount of itemized deductions to $1 so that you qualify for the standard deduction.  Then remove the $300 contribution.  Finally, restore the itemized deductions to qualify for Schedule A.

If your tax return qualifies for the standard deduction, follow these steps:

• Go to Federal / Deductions & Credits / Your tax breaks.
• 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 $0.
• At Other Tax Situations, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Let’s keep going.
• Continue through Review.

Go to Tax Tools / Tools / View Tax Summary / Preview my 1040 to view line 12b for the charitable deduction of $0.

Finally, if you changed itemized deductions, restore the itemized deductions to qualify for Schedule A.

[bobi456]

Your advice is good I’m sure but I do not see the same menus as you are mentioning. I am using Turbo Tax Deluxe for Windows. Do you have instructions for that version? 

Thank you! 

[bobi456]

Update: It looks like Turbo Tax automatically changed 12 B via Smart Check to a blank line. Is that the same as 0 or should I type “0” ? 

Thank you. 

[JamesG1 · Accepted solution]

You may view line 12b in the Federal 1040 tax return in FORMS in the upper right hand corner of the Desktop versions of TurboTax.

A {blank} is the same as $0.  I would not override.

In TurboTax Desktop version, follow these steps to enter the Federal 1040 line 12b Charitable Cash Contributions under CARES Act.

• Return to Step-by-Step and click on Federal Taxes / Deductions & Credits / I'll Choose what I work on but do not enter the charitable donation.
• Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Done with Deductions.
• You will see the screen The Standard Deduction is right for you!  Click Continue.
• At the screen titled Getting a tax break for donating cash to charity, make sure that the box contains the amount of the deduction for which you qualify.      Click Continue.
• At Other Tax Situations, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Done with Other.
• Continue through Federal Review and Smart Check.

Go to Forms to view the Federal 1040 line 12b for the charitable deduction.

[bobi456]

It appears Turbo Tax decided I’m better off with itemized deductions so all makes sense. Thank you so much!