My itemized ded. are about $45,000. Why must I take the standard deduction?

[DoninGA]

Look at the Schedule A Line 17.  Is the amount shown greater than your standard deduction?  Look at all the itemized deductions on Schedule A.
Using the desktop editions - Click on Forms in the upper right of the program screen.  When in Forms mode on the left side of the screen click on Schedule A to open

[kevieska]

Thanks, but...my list of forms is not showing Schedule A. Is that because it is forcing me to use the Standard Deduction?

[DoninGA]

Normally the list will have a Schedule A even if the Standard Deduction was being used instead.
Click on Open Form at the top left of the Forms mode screen.  Type in schedule a and open the schedule.  Your itemized entries will be shown.

[kevieska]

Thanks. I appreciate your patience; but Schedule A is not there. I’ll keep trying. But now this:  I went to a worksheet that compared my deductions for 2018 compared to 2017. I entered my Mortgage Interest in the proper place when doing the Q & A, but it shows $0 on my worksheet of itemized deductions. Is mortgage interest excluded or limited on this year’s itemized deductions?

[macuser_22]

The icon at the top of you question  indicated that you said you are using the Windows CD/download version of Deluxe on your computer where you can view the forms directly in the forms mode.

If you are actually using the online version then  you cannot view the schedule A if it is not there.

For 2918 many taxpayers that itemized in the past will find that they can no longer itemize because the standard deduction has doubled so all of their itemized deduction s no longer exceed the standard deduction.

Only if all itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction will it be of benefit.

Not all itemized deductions count the full amount.  Medical expenses are reduced by 7.5% of AGI so if your AGI is $30,000, for example, then only medical expenses more than $2,250 would be an itemized deduction.

The 2018 tax law also caps the total of Sales tax OR State and local income tax,  Property (real estate and personal property) taxes at $10,000.

You can check the actual amount of itemized deductions by using the Search Topics for "itemized deductions, choosing" (under "My Account, Tools" in the online versions).    Click on "Change my deduction". That will display the actual amount of itemized deductions vs. the standard deduction.    (Be sure to uncheck "Change my deduction" after checking it so you do not lock in the wrong deduction.

2018 standard deductions

$12,000 Single
$18,000 Head of Household
$24,000 Married Jointly

Add an additional $1,300 for over age 65 or blind
This amount increases to $1,600 if the taxpayer is also unmarried.

[kevieska]

Thanks. I actually bought the disk at Costco and installed. Not sure if that makes a difference.

[DoninGA]

So what happens when you click on Open Form, type in schedule a and then click on the result for schedule a to open ?

[VolvoGirl]

Make sure to update your program.  Go up to Online-Check for Updates

[kevieska]

This did it...thank you!  I had checked the wrong box on my mortgage interest and it didn’t carry over. Now I get Schedule A and my itemized deductions.

[VolvoGirl · Accepted solution]

Solved in comments 

[emagsali]

My Itemized is $59K, why is the Return giving me the Standard Deduction?

[SweetieJean]

For Federal, not all itemized deductions (such as Medical) count at 100%.
Charitable is limited to a percent of your income.
And there is a $10,000 cap for 2018 on State/Local/Property/Sales taxes combined.

[SweetieJean]

And do not confuse Schedule A personal deductions with Schedule C business ones.