Switching to itemized deductions from standard deduction

[Bridget23611]

I'm on desktop version.  I try to switch from standard deduction to itemized deduction, but it won't let me.  Either way the refund is the same, but I have medical expenses that can be carried forward, so I want to itemize.

After calling Turbo Tax, I was told the 'only' option is to clear everything and start from the beginning.

Does anyone know of a better way?

[xmasbaby0]

What do you mean by "medical expenses that can be carried forward?"    Only medical expenses that you paid in 2025 can be entered on a 2025 tax return.  If you mean you want to try to deduct them on a state return, enter them in the federal software and they will flow to the state return.

MEDICAL EXPENSES

The medical expense deduction has to meet a rather large threshold before it can affect your return. The amount of medical (including dental, vision, etc.)  expenses that will count toward itemization is the amount that is OVER 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. You should only enter the amount that you paid in 2025—do not include any amounts that were covered by insurance or that are still outstanding.  Of course, your medical expenses plus your other itemized deductions still have to exceed your standard deduction before you will see a difference in your tax due or refund.

To enter your medical expenses go to Federal>Deductions and Credits>Medical>Medical Expenses

2025 STANDARD DEDUCTION AMOUNTS

SINGLE $15,750  (65 or older/legally blind + $2000)

MARRIED FILING SEPARATELY $15,750  (65 or older/legally blind +1600)

MARRIED FILING JOINTLY $31,500  (65 or older/legally blind + $1600)

HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD $23,625 (65 or older/legally blind + $2000)

[Bridget23611]

Thank you SO much for your reply.  So I learned that I cannot carryforward medical expenses from 2025 to 2026 since I"ve posted my question, but thank you just the same.

But I understand everything else you said and have followed all of those rules and still my itemized deductions are 'more' than the standard deduction and yet even after changing to itemized deductions, it reverts back to standard.  My schedule A shows that I am itemizing my deductions with all the details that I've verified and yet turbo tax says it is still using the standard deduction.  

But I read in turbo tax that even if itemized deductions are less than the standard, which mine are not, you should be able to choose itemized deductions in turbo tax.  It is not allowing me to change.  

Why not?  Thank you!

[xmasbaby0]

CHANGE FROM STANDARD OR FORCE ITEMIZED DEDUCTIONS

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-credits-deductions/change-standard-d...

[Bridget23611]

Thank you But I've already been doing this many many times and it still reverts back to the standard deduction. I have checked for updates in turbotax As well as on my computer and have rebooted and still  It won't allow me to change to the itemized deduction Option !

[xmasbaby0]

@Bridget23611

To call TurboTax customer support

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/account-management/contact-turbotax/L2y9...

[Bridget23611]

No, I still have the same problem. Again, after calling TurboTax, I was told the only thing I can do is to start a whole new tax return. I will do this at the last resort because I've already entered a lot of data. So I'm still trying to find a solution before having to do this. 

Thank you

[AnnetteB6]

Since you are using a desktop version of TurboTax, there is something you can try.  Use the following steps:

• Go to Forms in the upper right corner of the TurboTax screen
• Click on Info Wks in the upper section of the list of forms in your return shown on the left side
• Scroll down the page to Part VI Additional Information for your Federal Return
• Click the first box in the Standard Deduction/Itemized Deduction section

That selection will force the itemized deductions even if they are lower than your standard deduction.

@Bridget23611 

[SteamTrain]

@Bridget23611 

The one thing I can think of, where it might be an advantage to take Std Deduction vs Itemized in this case  (Where refund is the same)....is that if you are able to force it back to Itemized Deductions, that any state refund you get this year...that state refund will become Fed taxable income for 2026 taxes.  If you leave it at Std Ded...then this year's state refund isn't Fed taxable income next year.   (I don't know if TTX software is smart enough to notice this or not).

Though, one must recognize too, that some states require using the same deduction selection on the state forms, as was done in the Fed form...while others let you re-choose for the state forms...thus, occasionally a more complicated decision.

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Of course, if you owe the state more this year (no state refund), or are a resident of a state without an income tax...that wouldn't be a decision point.