Turbo Tax Deluxe not populating Form 8283 for State of Alabama

[Tzu5]

If you have a non-cash donation for the state of Alabama and Form 8283 is required, Turbo Tax is not populating the form.  This only occurs if you file standard on Federal but itemize on the State.  I have talked to two Turbo Tax support reps. and no one has a resolution for the problem.  There is a glitch in the software and there is no fix scheduled.  You have to print your state return and mail it in.  If you itemize on the Federal & State both, the form will populate for Alabama.

When you have completed your returns and Turbo Tax runs the review, it shows "no errors" however, this form is required by the State so Turbo Tax is not catching the error.  Also, there is no way to attach the form to the state via Turbo Tax.  I really wish Turbo Tax would correct the problem because I am fearful I will miss some form when printing/mailing my return.  Hope this helps other. 

[PaulM2]

As of today (2/5/2020) this issue has not been addressed for 2019 Alabama returns either. (And I've already paid the 20 bucks they charge for state filing)

[CatinaT1]

I show all supported Alabama forms are available.

[Zeva7]

I have a solution but you must file a paper return with Alabama for this to work.  No problem Efiling Federal.

1) go into Federal section and TEMPORARILY edit one of your cash donations to a large enough number to force Federal to switch to itemizing.  This will generate form 8283. 

2) Print form 8283 to add to your paper Alabama return. 

3) Go back to Federal and undo the the large cash donation back to the correct value.  

Done!

[jiji1]

I have similar situation where I am using the standard deduction for Federal and itemizing for the state of California.  The Form 8283 is not appearing as one of the state forms to be submitted. 

This should be a 5 minute programming effort for Turbotax to fix. 

[KathrynG3]

It depends. While the 2019 Alabama Form 40 Tax Book page 8 does allow you to calculate which deduction is higher, standard or itemized, be sure to verify that the Charitable Deductions reported on Form 8283 are large enough to make this a better option. Please see page 9 for the standard deduction table to confirm.

[Zeva7]

KathrynG3,

You seem to have misunderstood the issue.  The question is NOT about whether it's better to itemize on State or not.  The problem applies to people who:

- Take the standard deduction on Federal 

- Itemize on State (there is no question that itemizing is better for me and the other people describing this problem)

- and have noncash contributions in excess of $500

The state of Alabama (and apparently others) requires that form Federal form 8283 accompany the State return, and Turbo tax does not do this.  

[KathrynG3]

Yes, I understood your question and the predicament. I was suggesting your best alternative was what you already surmised: to attach Form 8283 when paper filing. By referencing the Alabama Standard Deduction levels, I was suggesting that it was worth confirming that itemizing your deductions was better than taking the Alabama standard deduction. 

@Zeva7

[JBrew27]

Turbo tax has been this way for the last several years. What I have done to work around it is to go back and do a cash donation to a charity large enough to get me past the Federal standard deduction. When you do this Turbo will populate form 8283. Then go to the print center and click to print forms and select form 8283.

Don't forget to go back and delete the fake cash donation to get back to your normal return. This gives you the 8283 to go with your Alabama return when you print it.

Hope this helps.

[KrisD15]

Won't this cause you to file an inflated 8283 with the state return? 

[Zeva7]

KrisD15,

No.  It means filing an accurate 8283 with the state as opposed to not having a form that the state requires. 

[KrisD15]

If you falsely claim a large cash donation, and print the Form 8283 to file with the state return, won't the 8283 report the "Fake, inflated contribution"? Do you need to adjust the numbers after you print the 8283? 

Below is a link to the form which can be completed by hand and included with the state return: 

Form 8283

[Tzu5]

JBrew27

Last year was the first year I experienced the problem. I assume because I have never had to take the Federal standard deduction.  I had to print my 2018 Alabama return and mail it since no one at Turbo Tax could figure out a resolution. 

Thank you for the suggestion. I will give it a try.

[Tzu5]

KathyrnG3

Thanks you for your response; but, it does not help the issue I experienced.  It is more beneficial for me to itemize on the state.  It is inconvenient to print and mail your taxes in.  Plus the state of Alabama strongly encourages all residents to e file their taxes. I would think Turbo Tax would develop a fix for their software.

[Zeva7]

KrisD15,

Cash donations do not show up on form 8283, only non-cash donations.  The point to to temporarily force itemizing on the Federal return to be able to get form 8283 with all the (accurate) non-cash donations. Print it to add to the paper State return.  Then undo the temporary thing that forced itemizing of Federal.  I chose to use a cash donation as the thing to temporarily inflate.