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New Member
posted Feb 13, 2021 3:49:15 PM

Turbotax keeps asking me to make the same 2 corrections over and over. What do I do?

One is Charitable Contributions, I enter $300 and then it says it should be blank.  Then it tells me it can't be blank. The other is to click the Launch Optimizer for Education Expense.

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3 Replies
Expert Alumni
Feb 18, 2021 3:41:27 PM

For the $300 cash charity deduction to use along with the standard deduction refer to the following:

 

You do not manually enter $300 on line 10b of form 1040.

 

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.

 

For the Launch Optimizer for Education Expenses go into the Education Credit section and at completion of the form entries, select to launch the optimizer so it will calculate the most beneficial education credit to file for.

Level 1
Feb 8, 2022 5:47:33 AM

I'm having the same problem. I'm not manually entering the 300. It has been added through TurboTax. 

 

It keeps asking me to check Launch Optimizer for Education Credits, but it won't allow me to check the box. 

 

Any suggestions?

Expert Alumni
Feb 8, 2022 6:56:14 AM

@gloriah5200 gave you good advice.

 

For the $300 Charitable deduction: First, you must clear all donations from the Deductions & Credits input screen

 

In the Desktop version:

  1. Go to Deductions and Credits

  2. Scroll to the bottom of the page

  3. Select Done with Deductions

  4. Let's check your Deductions .. Continue

  5. Here are your 2021 Deductions ... Continue

  6. The standard deduction is right for you ... Continue

  7. GET A TAX BREAK FOR DONATING CASH TO CHARITY

  8. Enter your amount

Online version

  1. Go to Deductions & Credits

  2. Scroll to the very bottom

  3. Select Wrap up Tax Breaks (Online)

  4. Continue through the interview to 

  5. Charitable Cash Contributions under Cares Act

  6. Enter your donation.

For the education credit, did you go back through 

  1. Deductions & Credits
  2. Scroll to Education
  3. Expenses and Scholarships (Form 1098-T)
  4. Your Education Expenses Summary  Select Edit
  5. Here's Your Education Summary
  6. Select 

    Education Information

  7. Go through the interview again