Losses do not offset winnings dollar for dollar.
Gambling
To enter the W-2G or other documents For your Gambling winnings--Go to Federal>Wages & Income>Less Common Income>Gambling Winnings
You can enter your winnings, and then keep clicking through the interview to enter gambling losses.
https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/how-do-i-claim-my-gambling-winnings-and-or-losses
Gambling winnings are taxable income. Losses are an itemized deduction. If you do not have enough itemized deductions to exceed your standard deduction, your losses will have no effect.
https://blog.turbotax.intuit.com/income-and-investments/how-are-gambling-winnings-taxed-8891/
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900352-can-i-deduct-my-gambling-losses
2020 Standard Deduction Amounts
Single $12,400 (+ $1650 65 or older)
Married Filing Separate $12,400 (+ $1300 if 65 or older)
Married Filing Jointly $24,800 (+ $1300 for each spouse 65 or older)
Head of Household $18,650 (+ $1650 for 65 or older)
The total amount of the gambling winnings are required to be reported as taxable income. Gambling losses are tax deductible only if you itemize your deductions. If you claim the standard deduction, then you can't reduce your tax by your gambling losses.
I'm having the same issue with an itemized return. Return goes from 600 refund to 1200 payment with the gambling wins, but the losses are never accounted for.
Sorry---but that's right. Losses do not offset winnings dollar for dollar. Losses are an itemized deduction----if you do not have enough itemized deductions to exceed your standard deduction, the losses have no effect at all, and you just have to pay tax on all the winnings.
My itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction.
Remember that there are limits and thresholds that must be met when you enter itemized deductions.
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 12 of your 2020 Form 1040.
2020 Standard Deduction Amounts
Single $12,400 (+ $1650 65 or older)
Married Filing Separate $12,400 (+ $1300 if 65 or older)
Married Filing Jointly $24,800 (+ $1300 for each spouse 65 or older)
Head of Household $18,650 (+ $1650 for 65 or older)