Standard deduction will not be overridden by the higher personal deductions of Schedule A

[Bonnied1]

I keep getting all these silly "awards" but no one can give me a straight answer on how to get my personal deductions to calculate instead of the standard deduction, which is less.  I want to add more from It's deductible

but it is already over the amount but it will not show it on the "Federal Tax Due" square.

[xmasbaby0]

By "personal deduction" are you trying to refer to itemized deductions on Schedule A?   

Are you making the common mistake of just adding up all the amounts for your itemized deductions without considering the caps and thresholds that must be met?

STANDARD DEDUCTION

Many taxpayers are surprised because their itemized deductions are not having the same effect as they did on past tax returns.  The new higher standard deduction and the elimination of certain deductions, as well as the cap on state and local taxes have had a major impact since the new tax laws went into effect beginning with 2018 returns.

Your itemized deductions have to be more than your standard deduction before you will see a change in your tax owed or tax refund.  The deductions you enter do not necessarily count “dollar for dollar;” many of them are subject to meeting  tough thresholds—medical expenses, for example, must meet a threshold that is pretty hard to reach. (Only the amount that is MORE than 7.5% of your AGI counts)   The software program uses all the IRS rules that apply to the expenses you enter, and it tells you if you have enough to use your itemized deductions or if using the standard deduction is more advantageous for you.  Under the new tax laws, some deductions have been capped—there is a $10,000 limit to the itemized deductions for state, local, property and sales taxes.

Your standard deduction lowers your taxable income.  It is not a refund.  You will see your standard or itemized deduction amount on line 12a of your 2021 Form 1040.

2021 STANDARD DEDUCTION AMOUNTS

SINGLE $12,550  (65 or older + $1700)

MARRIED FILING SEPARATELY $12,550  (65 or older + $1350)

MARRIED FILING JOINTLY $25,100  (65 or older + $1350 per spouse)

HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD  $18,800  (65 or older +$1700)

Legally Blind + $1350

[VolvoGirl]

And by increasing your deductions it will decease your income and you may not be getting as many credits as before.   Also after you reduce your income to zero there is no more refund to get back but you still may owe for other things like self employment tax or the 10% early withdrawal penalty from 401k or IRA accounts.

If you have the Desktop program you can switch to Forms Mode and open Schedule A to see.  If it doesn't show Schedule A in the list on the left,  Then click Open Forms box in the top of the column on the left. Open the US listing of forms.

[Bonnied1]

This is not addressing the question.  I am not reducing my income, I am taking credit for deductions.  In no way would I ever have enough deductions to make our income be "0." 

So far the deductions I have entered total 27887 and the standard deduction is 27800, so it is $87 more and it does not recognize the extra amount in the "federal tax owed" box with the numbers in red (which mean we owe taxes.

I am hoping some one will actually address problem and not insert side issues that do not apply.

I still have "it's deductible donations to download, so I am hoping it works.

Thanks,

[Bonnied1]

I know the amounts, this is not the issue.  My deductions are at this point $87 more than our "standard deduction" however it will not recognize that it is more.

[Bonnied1]

I have entered my It's deductible numbers and the amount went down.  Thank goodness.  I would not go down

for an extra $87 but it went down for the additional deductions to charity.