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Standard deduction vs Itemized, if I go standard I get a refund if I Itemize I owe, how can that be and if I choose standard is that fraud?

 
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5 Replies

Standard deduction vs Itemized, if I go standard I get a refund if I Itemize I owe, how can that be and if I choose standard is that fraud?

Your itemized deductions must be less than your standard deduction. By all means take the standard deduction. 

LindaS5247
Expert Alumni

Standard deduction vs Itemized, if I go standard I get a refund if I Itemize I owe, how can that be and if I choose standard is that fraud?

Due to recent tax law changes, which raised the standard deduction and limited some deductions, most people will do better using the standard deduction rather than itemizing.  As long as you entered your information properly, Turbo Tax will figure which deduction is best for you and it is fine.

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Standard deduction vs Itemized, if I go standard I get a refund if I Itemize I owe, how can that be and if I choose standard is that fraud?

if you file MFS, and one itemizes, the other must also itemize

even if you end up owing.

 

@adamschlaeger 

Standard deduction vs Itemized, if I go standard I get a refund if I Itemize I owe, how can that be and if I choose standard is that fraud?

Double-check your entries and print out a copy of your return. Look it iver carefully to see if you can see why. Many times someone just doesn't have enough deductions to warrant itemizing. 

DMarkM1
Expert Alumni

Standard deduction vs Itemized, if I go standard I get a refund if I Itemize I owe, how can that be and if I choose standard is that fraud?

As already stated you should select the best option for you unless you are required to select one or the other based on a "Married Filing Separately" status.  You can see a breakdown summary of your itemized deductions in online versions in the "Deductions and Credits" section. 

 

  1. Click "Deductions and Credits" in the left-hand menu
  2. Continue through to arrive at the page where TurboTax has selected either "Itemized or Standard" for you.  
  3. Below the graph there is a dropdown link "Show me the estimated breakdown" 
  4. Click the link to see the itemized deductions breakdown from your entries

 

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