Non Cash Charitable Contributions

[JOFI]

In prior years, and consistent with IRS regulations, if a taxpayer made $500 or less in non cash charitable contributions, you could just enter the name of the charity and the amount and be done with it.  Only if the amount exceeded $500 would you need to provide additional details on donation date, items donated, etc.

This year, even when I list a single non-cash donation of $500 or less, I am getting error notices requiring me to input additional information regarding the donation on a separate form.

Anyone else seeing this?

[Just-Lisa-Now-]

Once your total of all entries is over $500 then you have to fill it all in.

You mean you enter a single $175 non cash entry and it makes you complete everytng?

[JOFI]

Yes, this year for the first time, even if I put in a single donation below $500, I am getting error prompts on a separate "Noncash Contributions Worksheet" asking me to input the donation date and the method used to determine the fair market value.

Test it yourself and let me know if you see the same errors.

[Just-Lisa-Now-]

it looks ok in Professional, I requested access to a copy of Basic a few days ago, just for trouble shooting purposes like this, but so far...still waiting.

[dascpa]

I've had the same error in Professional and also in 1065-1120S, forcing me to fill out the form. If less than $500 I've just entered on the 1040 12/31/25 and Thirft Shop Value and it's accepted it.

[JOFI]

Yes, one can work around this, but I don't like lying on a tax return (donation date) when it is simply a software issue.

[dascpa]

We assume it's a software issue. For all we know Intuit is smarter than us and the IRS wants those fields filled out for the electronic submission.

I have seen cases where if the cost basis is not filled out the IRS has denied the charity claim. How many of us could come up with a cost basis for clothing and household items in the pile of stuff we gave away?

This is one of the biggest areas of "game playing". I'd be okay with getting rid of the whole non-cash charity concept except for appraised items.

[JOFI]

I am not aware of any IRS changes to reporting requirements for non-cash charitable contributions, so I assume this is in fact a software issue.

Yes, I agree with you that lots of taxpayers play games with these contributions, but that doesn't mean Intuit needs to make life more difficult for tax preparers.

[TaxGuyBill]

I entered a $400 contribution a couple of days ago and it didn't have a problem in Basic.  I don't have the program handy right now to test it again though (in case a recent update messed it up).

Have you tried deleting each thing (I think right-clicking and then select delete may delete the entire section for that donation) and then re-enter it?