Q: I paid income tax to the state last year, but then received a refund check in November due to a late change in the law
to address a surplus. I also received a tax form for the refund to enter on this year's state return. The amount I paid does not equal the refund. How do I enter these values on my state return?
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A:
When reporting your state income taxes on your tax return, you should enter the amount of state income tax that you actually paid during the tax year, which would be the amount that you paid before receiving the refund check in November. You should not include the refund amount as part of the state income tax that you paid.
When you enter the refund on your state tax return for the current year, you should report the amount of the refund that you received as a separate item. Depending on the specific tax form you are using, this may be reported as a credit, a subtraction, or in some other manner. Be sure to follow the instructions provided on the form to accurately report the refund amount.
If you are uncertain about how to report the state income tax payment and refund on your tax return, you may want to consult with a tax professional or refer to the instructions for the specific tax form that you are using.
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