standard deduction plus charitable deduction

[Carol481]

We are taking the standard deduction.  Our charitable contributions are listed as $600 on the review of our deductions and credits directly under the standard deduction amount, but the total standard deduction amount does not include the $600 and stays at 27,600.  How do we get credit for our donation? 

We also have a (-$3566) for state and local taxes greater than $10,000 listed.  I read that that shouldn't make a difference.  

[rjs]

Look at the actual Form 1040, not the summary screens in the TurboTax interview. There is a bug in the summary display that, as you have observed, makes it look like it's not adding the $600 to your deductions. But the problem is only in the summary screen. The actual tax form is correct. If you have $600 on Form 1040 line 12b you are getting the deduction. The total on line 12c will include the $600.

The bug in the summary screen has been reported to TurboTax.

You are right that the state and local taxes don't make any difference, since you are taking the standard deduction. I don't know why it shows it on the summary screen. Just ignore it.

[Carol481]

Thank you for your answer.  The form does indeed reflect $300 deduction.  However, we, because we are married filing jointly,  should be getting a $600 deduction if I am reading the information correctly.  How do I get it to change to the $600?

[Carol481]

Two questions :  1.  My 1040 form only reflects a $300 deduction.  How do I get it to change to a $600 deductions that married filing jointly couples should get?

2.  If I can correct the 1040 form to reflect the $600 instead of the $300, will that automatically be reflected on my Idaho State form 40?

Thanks!

[KrisD15 · Accepted solution]

The Tax law allows a Taxpayer to claim Charity Donations on their Schedule A or, if using the Standard Deduction, on their 1040 line 12b as an addition to their Standard Deduction amount.

This amount can be up to 600 for Married Filing Joint, or 300 for all others.

If the charity donations are listed under "Deductions & Credits" in the TurboTax program, it is causing an error to those Married Filing Joint filers who wish to use the optional 600 with Standard Deduction. The entry in cash donations must be deleted, however that amount will also be deleted from the state total. To compensate, please include the CASH donations as "Other intangible property" under "Deductions & Credits" so that the amount can carry over to the state return. 

Please return to the Deductions & Credits section, scroll down to "Charitable Donations" and DELETE any cash entries you made there. 

To include charitable donations for your state return, you can enter the donations as "Items" select "I'll value them, select "Other intangible property" enter the description as cash if it was and the amount as the value. 

Go back through the review. The program will ask you for your charity donation again although it may not be until the END of the FINAL REVIEW.  (After the "Tax Summary for 2021" screen)

Enter the amount up to 600 Married Filing Joint.