You must have gotten confused by the "summary" that netted out the difference between a refund and a tax due. Your federal refund cannot ever be used to pay the state tax due, nor can a state refund ever be used to pay a federal tax due. You have to pay the tax yourself.
The federal and state treasuries are completely separate from each other.
Your state tax due cannot be paid from a federal refund.
And….your federal tax due cannot be paid from a state refund.
Neither refund can be used to pay the amount due to the other one.
If you owe tax due, you have to pay it yourself by the filing deadline on April 15, 2026.
If you have federal tax due you can pay by mailing your payment with the 1040V voucher, (which has the address printed on it, having the payment taken out of a designated bank account, or you can pay directly on the IRS website.
https://www.irs.gov/payments
https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-payments/help/how-can-i-pay-my-federal-taxes/00/26212
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-payments/help/how-do-i-pay-my-irs-tax-due-with-a-check-or-mone...
To apply for a payment plan with the IRS
Apply Online for a Payment Plan
You must pay your state tax due using the state’s preferred method of receiving payment. For most states that will be by making a payment to the state’s own tax website, or by mailing a check or money order.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/state-taxes/contact-state-department-rev...
**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
