Turbo Tax Provides No Means to Change the Standard Charity Deduction (1040 10b)?

[markbyrn]

So I entered $300 for the new charity standard deduction and it seems TurboTax offers no means to change that number.  It must be a well hidden secret or they neglected to include the option.  How do I change the amount I entered? 

[MinhT1]

For 2020, you are allowed to deduct up to $300 ($150 if Married filing Separately) of cash donations to 501(c)3 organizations even if you do not itemize your deductions.

In order to take this above-the-line deduction, enter your donation(s) under Deductions & Credits > Charitable Donations > Donations to Charities in 2020.  The deduction will be added above-the-line by TurboTax after you have completed the  Wrap up tax breaks interview in TurboTax if you take the Standard deduction.

On your form 1040, this deduction appears on line 10b - Charitable contributions if you take the standard deduction.

[markbyrn]

Please tell me how to change the number I entered using Turbo Tax - I have not filed yet.  

[markbyrn]

Thanks but how do you change the number entered after the making the entry in the Wrap up tax breaks interview.  There doesn't appear to be any possible way to change the number once entered and that's a bug.  

[KrisD15 · Accepted solution]

TurboTax ONLINE

Click Tax Tools on the left side bar

Click Tools from the drop-down

Click the "Topic Search" box on the screen

Type or scroll down to    standard deduction and exemptions

Click GO 

The next screen gives you an option to change your selection from Standard to Itemized and back. You do not need to change your selection

Scroll down to the bottom of that screen and click CONTINUE

The next screen is the Charitable Cash Contributions under Cares Act screen

IF YOU ARE CLAIMING STANDARD DEDUCTION enter the amount of cash contributions you made, up to  300

IF YOU ARE ITEMIZING DEDUCTIONS enter 0

Scroll down and click Continue

Click Continue on the next screen

Next, view your 1040 to see  1040 line 10 

To verify, click “Review” if necessary, in order to get Tax Tools on the left side bar

Click Tax Tools on the left side bar

Click Tools on the drop down list

Click “View Tax Summary” on the “Tools Center” screen

When the next screen appears (Review Tax Summary) ON THE LEFT SIDE BAR you should see “Preview my 1040”

Click “Preview my 1040” on the left side bar

Scroll down to line 10b on the 1040.

DESKTOP

Go to Step-By-Step input

Click Federal

Click Deductions & Credits along the top

Click “I’ll choose what I work on”

Edit or Update Donations to Charity in 2020 if needed, then click “Done with Charitable Donations”

Scroll down the “Your 2020 Deductions & Credits” screen and click “Done with Deductions”

Click Continue on the “Let’s Check Your Deductions and Credits” screen

Continue through the following interview questions until you get to the “Here Are Your 2020 Deductions & Credits” screen

Click Continue

If the next screen says “The Standard deduction is Right for You!” click Continue

ON THE NEXT SCREEN enter the cash contribution made in 2020 and click Continue

Your 1040 should update

“The new "up to $300 above the line cash charity donation" is available for tax year 2020. This allows a Taxpayer to claim up to a $300 credit which is subtracted from income on the 1040 line 10c if the Taxpayer is claiming the Standard Deduction. (If you Itemize Deductions, all your donations will be listed on Schedule A.) “

@markbyrn

[markbyrn]

Thank you so much!

[fkrantz]

This procedure does not appear to work for the 2021 return. When I get to the point where I click the Wrap up tax breaks button, it takes me to the "Uncommon tax situations" page. There is no option to update the Standard Charity Deduction and if I click Lets keep going it takes me to the Federal Review. Is this a glitch / bug or is it just not possible to update the figure once you complete the credits / deductions?

[LenaH]

In your situation, it is recommended that you first log out of your TurboTax Online and delete your cookies.

On rare occasions, they may make your browser think you already did something that you still need to do. To fix that, you'll need to delete (clear) the cookies from your browser. For more information on how to delete your cookies on the browser you are using, please see How do I delete cookies?.

You can also try using a different browser to finish up your return.

Then, please follow the steps below to enter or edit your charitable contribution:

1. Open your return. 
2. Click Federal from the left side of your screen.
3. Click Deductions &Credits on the top of the screen.
4. Scroll down and click the Wrap up tax breaks button.
5. Continue until you reach the Charitable Cash Contributions under Cares Act screen.
6. Enter or edit your charitable cash contributions.

@fkrantz