Is a tax payment for back taxes made in 2016, for taxable year 2014. Is that a deduction on 2016 return.

[AndreaG · Accepted solution]

No. You cant take a deduction if the payment is for federal income taxes. However, if this is a payment for your state income taxes, then you can take a deduction on your federal return if you qualify to itemize deductions. You would need to exclude any amounts that are for penalties or interest, such as a late payment fee. Please refer to page 3 of the IRS instructions, under the heading, "line 5: state and local income taxes". https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040sca.pdf

To itemize your deductions, you would have to have personal expenses such as medical and dental expenses, mortgage interest, real estate taxes, unreimbursed job expenses and certain miscellaneous expenses, and charitable contributions that when combined together, total more than your standard deduction. For example if you file single, your standard deduction is $6300 so you would have to have personal expenses that total more than $6300.

For instructions on how to enter your state income tax payment, please refer to the following FAQ. https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/3300919