Schedule A - why is Lacerte taking Std Deduction vs Itemizing when Itemizing > std ded?

[KariA]

I have a high net worth client and with mortgage interest, charity, etc. he is over the standard deduction; however, Lacerte is not allowing the higher itemized deduction to go thru.  Am I missing something?  I thought this year there was no limitation on Sch A?  Thanks for your help!

[Bobby200]

Did you check the box for the $300 above the line deduction?  I am fairly sure that forces the standard deduction in lieu of the $300.  Meaning, you get the Standard Deduction and $300, or else you get Schedule A.  Not both Schedule A and the $300 above the line.

[KariA]

Thank you, yes, Lacerte does handle the charitable this way.  That was not my question.  The overall Sch A TOTAL of itemized deductions is exceeding the std deduction of $24,800 but Lacerte isn't accepting it. For 2020, there isn't supposed to be a limitation on Itemizing so I am unclear why Lacerte is stopping the Itemized deduction when it is about $4,000 higher than the std deduction.  Thx

[George4Tacks · Accepted solution]

@KariA I believe you have an input error, somewhere. Did you check or input something for any of the first entries in Schedule A that might force Std Ded? Did you check the box under filing status in Screen 1 that might force Std Ded? Did you check the box mentioned by @Bobby200 that forces Sch A to get the above the line charitable deduction (You can't have both above the line and itemized deductions - one or the other).

[elbcpa]

Great!  While we spent 30 minutes with a customer service rep to figure this out I came online to research if anyone was having the same problem.  Rep couldn't figure it out but the Cash Contribution selection was the issue!

Thanks.

[sjrcpa]

We recommend starting here first. No hold time for one thing.

[Karen Mathews]

Definitely answered my question by "unchecking" the charitable deduction box to force additional $300 and additing to standard deduction.  When I "unchecked" the box I got Sch A deductions rather than standard deduction.