Itemized deductions not carried over to 1040 lin 12e

[rlloyd123]

On my 2025 return (desktop version), the total itemized deductions on schedule A is higher than a standard deduction but line 12e on 1040 shows a smaller number (standard deduction)  Why?

[JohnB5677]

It's difficult to say without seeing your return.

Since you're using Desktop, you should check your deductible and confirm that the deductible amount is greater than the Standard Deduction,

Some limitations on Itemized deductions are:

Medical expenses are deductible, but you can only deduct costs that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI).

State and local taxes are deductible, but remember the IRS ‌limits them to $40,000. In addition, this amount can be reduced based on your income level. 

[rlloyd123]

TT correctly calculated the itemized deductions based on the statutory caps.  The issue was that the final value on Schedule A did not carry through to the 1040.  I had to discard the incorrect return and start from scratch in a new file.  That fixed the problem and the Schedule A value DID transfer correctly to Schedule A.

[sga999]

I'm having the same problem.  I am not a dependent of anyone else. But the Standard Deduction Worksheet for Dependents is being filled out.  I think this is the reason that my itemized deductions are being limited.

My personal info is correct, i.e. I am not a dependent.  I would really hate to start over since I have lots of info entered.  I tried just deleting that Worksheet, but it didn't help. Is there an alternative to deleting all info and starting over?

[ThomasM125]

You can try going back to the Deductions and Credits section and continue on from there. The first time you do that TurboTax will ask if you want to switch from standard to itemized deductions or vice versa, depending on what the program recommends. You can also try deleting your itemized deductions schedule A and re-entering your itemized deductions. That may also populate the screen asking which deduction method you want to use.

[sga999]

No luck.  Because I had already itemized, I don't see anything that allows me to now say to not itemize.  So I tried your next suggestion of deleting Schedule A.  It looks like it is deleted, but if I search for the form, it comes back.  It always has the correct total on line 17  there (e.g. 30,000 because of charitable deductions), but that does not transfer over to 1040 line 12e.  Instead line 2e always shows 17,750, no matter what the total itemized deductions are.

If I click Quickzoom under 12e, it goes to Standard Deduction Worksheet for Dependents, which makes no sense (it doesn't go there every time.  Something must really be screwed up).  That form uses the standard deduction amount of 15,750 on line 2, then it must be adding 2000. So 17,750 always transfers to 1040 line 12e.

I saw some question and response saying you shouldn't switch between interview and forms. I'm sure I have done that for years and haven't had an issue like this.  And even if that did cause a problem, I would think that deleting Schedule A or that Worksheet would get rid of the problem. But it doesn't!  Thanks for the suggestion.  I'll probably have to start over, but let me know if you have other ideas.

[VolvoGirl]

 Could be several reasons  why it's giving you the Standard Deduction.   If you are filing Married filing Separate  you have to take the same deduction as your spouse.  

I saw an answer from an employee that said something about Turbo Tax will pick the better deduction for you.  Like if the Itemized Deductions don't help you then it's better to take the Standard Deduction.  So maybe you don't need to take a bigger deduction.  

[sga999]

No, I'm single, over 65, with a large amount of itemized deductions, so it should not be choosing standard deduction.  As the first person posted, theirs was fixed by starting over.  That's what I am trying to avoid, but it looks like that may be impossible.

[DaveF1006]

Since you are on Desktop, this is the most direct way to alleviate the issue.

1. Click the Forms icon (top right). 
2. In the left sidebar, find and open the 1040/1040SR Wks (the Federal Information Worksheet).
3. Scroll down to Part VI - Standard Deduction.
4. Look for a checkbox that says "Standard deduction is limited (can be claimed as a dependent)". If that is checked, Uncheck it.
5. If it won't let you uncheck it, look for a checkbox right above it that says "Itemized" or "Change my deduction to itemized" and check that to force the software to ignore the standard deduction issue entirely.
6. Also if there is a Standard Worksheet for dependents listed, delete that also.
7. Now close the program and open back up again to see if everything is restored to normal.

[sga999]

Thank you so much!  I found that section VI that you mentioned on Info Wks instead of 1040/1040SR Wks.  I have no idea how that box got checked.  Someone above had said to go through the interview and I'd be able to pick something about itemizing or not.  But I tried that, and it did not ever present such a question. I had tried deleting the worksheet that you mentioned with no good result, but not the Info Wks.

The "bad box" that was checked for me says "Check this box to take the standard deduction even if less than itemized deductions".  I don't see any box that says what you wrote about limited and can be claimed as a dependent.  NO is definitely checked higher up on the worksheet for being a dependent of someone else.

As I mentioned in my first post, I did delete the Standard Worksheet for dependents, but it always came back. And as I said before, I had only tried deleting the worksheet you mentioned, not the one where the box was checked incorrectly.

I appreciate your advice!