Bug Report - Review Stage changes charitable deductions

[carlosn]

I have completed my federal and state returns.  Both passed their individual review/error check with no errors.

My return utilizes the standard deduction with an additional $600 deduction for charitable donations (filing jointly).  

When I get to the final review stage "Let's make sure your taxes are correct" and "give us a minute to Look things over" I noticed that my federal tax due suddenly jumped up.  It then tells me that there is one area that needs review.  

When I continue it opens up the 1040 Wks and flags line12b "charitable contributions if you take the standard deduction" as having an unacceptable value.  Sure enough it is $300, when it should be $600 for filing jointly.

I manually type $600.  The tax due drops and all is well again.  Re-running the Smart Check as prompted works  yields no errors.

HOWEVER, if I stop and start the final review process again, the loop repeats.  TT changes $600 to $300, increases tax due, and  then flags the $300 in error.

[AnnetteB6]

For the 2021 tax return using the Married Filing Joint filing status, you are allowed to deduct up to $600 in cash contributions to charity without claiming itemized deductions.

If you are using the Married Filing Joint filing status AND using the standard deduction:

As you go through your Federal return and you have entered your charitable contributions, you will not see any additional questions regarding your inputs.  If your state return also allows you to deduct charitable contributions, then the amounts you entered will be taken into account on your state return. 

After you have finished your state return and you are getting ready to file, when you run the final Review, you will probably see this message:

1040/1040SR Wks:  Charitable Contributions:  Charitable contributions has an unacceptable value

You will also see a place at the top of the screen for Charitable contributions with '300' in the box.  Below that box, you can see your Form 1040 line 12a which shows the amount of your cash contributions that you already entered. 

If your line 12a is greater or equal to $600, enter '600' in the box at the top of the screen.

If your line 12a is less than $600, enter your line 12a amount in the box at the top of the screen.

After changing the input at the top of the screen to the correct value, proceed through any other errors that may pop up and then move forward to file your return.  It is very important that you do not revisit any other section of your return before you file or the change may not be retained or able to be changed a second time.

See the screenshot below for reference:

[carlosn]

What you describe is exactly the bug I'm trying to report.

TurboTax correctly accounts for $600 deduction (confirmed by looking at forms)

During the checking process it suddenly changes it to $300 and then reports the value is incorrect

Yes, I can manually change it back to $600.

However, changing a value to an incorrect amount during the checking process, even if it is then flag as being incorrect, is clearly a bug.

[RobertB4444]

This is a known issue in the software and is being worked on.

Meanwhile there is a workaround.  @JotikaT2 has the perfect answer for this -

You can correct this by logging back into your TurboTax program and following the steps below.

1. Click on the Federal Taxes tab.

2. Select the Deductions & Credits tab.

3. On the screen titled How do you want to enter your deductions and credits?, select I'll choose what I work on.

4. Scroll down to Charitable Donations.

5. Select Update to the right of Donations to Charity in 2021.

6. You will see a screen titled Review All Your Charities.

7. To the right of any deductions entered, select Delete to remove any input.

8. You will then select Done with Charitable Donations.

9. On the next page (Deductions), scroll down to the bottom and click on Done with Deductions.

10. Proceed through the following screens until you pass the screen letting you know you are getting the Standard Deduction.  

11. The next screen titled Charitable Cash Contributions under the Care Act will allow you to enter your charitable contributions for 2021.  Enter your total cash contributions on this screen and select Continue.

This will correct the issue and allow you to continue with your tax return. 

Here's a link to her original answer.