Form 8829 line 10 standard deduction problem

[georgio]

Yes to line 14, No to line 16/17... which may be correct if you itemize, but TT has chosen the standard deduction for me.

However, if you enter the amounts in the "Excess" fields on the worksheet mentioned above, it then correctly puts them on 16/17 instead of 14.

The problem is it implies it will handle it automatically, doesn't warn you if it later chooses the standard deduction for you, and generally has very poor explanation in the home deduction step by step. 🙂

[Richard Forster]

The problem appears to rest with the first interview screen appearing after you select the "I'll enter actual expenses with the Office Expense Expert (recommended)" radio button. The very next screen, entitled "Let's confirm ----- mortgage interest applies to this home office."  If you check the box: "Yes, include for this home office deduction" and are NOT itemizing deductions, you will lose a portion of your hoe mortgage interest -- there is no Schedule A.  Checking the box will populate Line 10 and total on Line 14.  You don't find out about this error until a number of screens later in the interview at the Excess Mortgage Interest.  You are told to enter interest here if not itemizing -- an Lines 16/17 are populated.  The difficulty rests with a very poor explanation of a tricky distinction in the home office deduction -- itemize or not itemize.  That first interview screen needs a major re-work with an explanation.  The length of this thread demonstrates their is a problem.

Cheers to all