Common questions about Schedule A, Itemized Deductions

In this article, you can find solutions to frequently asked questions about generating Schedule A, Itemized Deductions in Lacerte.

Table of contents:

To generate Schedule A in the program:

1. Go to Screen 25, Itemized Deductions (Sch. A).
2. Enter the taxpayer's or spouse's amounts in the applicable fields.
3. Go to the Forms tab.
4. Select Schedule A from the left-hand menu.
5. Compare the results on Schedule A, line 17 against the IRS standard deduction.
   • If Schedule A, line 17 is greater than the standard deduction, Lacerte will generate Schedule A.

How do I force Schedule A to generate for all clients and still have Lacerte optimize?

1. From the Settings menu, select Options.
2. Select the Tax Return tab.
3. Scroll down to the Federal Tax Options section.
4. Click the arrow in the Schedule A field and select Force from the dropdown menu.

How do I force Schedule A to generate for a specific client and still have Lacerte optimize?

1. Go to Screen 25, Itemized Deductions (Sch. A).
2. Enter a 1 in, 1=force Schedule A to print (not for EF), 2=when applicable [O] (code 2).

How do I force Schedule A and take itemized deductions on Form 1040 for a MFS taxpayer, dual status alien, etc.?

1. Go to Screen 25, Itemized Deductions (Sch. A).
2. Enter a 1 or 2 in 1=must itemize, 2=elect to itemize, 3=force standard deduction [O] (code 1).
   • Enter a 1 to force itemized deductions for a taxpayer with a Married Filing Separately status or to force itemized deductions for a taxpayer who is a dual status alien.
   • Enter a 2 to force Schedule A and use the calculated itemized deductions even though they're less than the standard deduction.

Schedule A Optional Statements

You can generate the following statements and worksheets in Lacerte Individual module:

• Prior Year State Refund Worksheet
• Sch A Optional Stmt: Medical, Mortgage, Contributions, etc.
• Sch A Optional Stmt: Real Estate Taxes
• Tax-exempt Interest Optional Statement
• Qualified Dividends Optional Statement
• Capital Gain Distributions Optional Statement
• Sch C Optional Statement
• Sch F Optional Statement
• Form 2106 Business Exp Stmt
• Basis Schedule
• Schedule of Loss Limitations

To generate optional statements and/or worksheets:

1. Select Settings.
2. Select Options.
3. Select the Tax Return tab.
4. Scroll down to the Federal Tax Options section.
5. Locate the optional statement to generate.
6. Select the drop down menu and select one of the following options:
   •  No - turn off the statement or worksheet
   •  With the tax return - print as a statement with the return
   •  With worksheets - print as a worksheet that doesn't go with the return