What is the Date Return Filed under state taxes?

[KatrinaLO]

Are you looking for your last year's state tax return?

[luislast]

This is a sub-category/question in the section of the TurboTax 2020 where you are asked about 2019 taxes and credits.

[beacon19]

I'm at this point now for 2020 NY state tax.

Turbotax has been asking about 2019 tax return questions so far.

Now the title of the question is "Date Return Filed" and it asks "Enter the date you will file your New York State return." 

Which is it asking?

a) the date on which I filed 2019 tax return

b) the date on which I will file 2020 tax return

b) seems unlikely (because I don't know when yet and why does that matter?) but that's what the instruction says.

I'd appreciate clarification on this. 

[luislast]

Never use logic when it comes to taxes. Why this question appears so early in your return is beyond reason.

The question relates to your present tax return, so it would be for 2020. If you don't know what date you will be filing your 2020 return, leave it blank and TurboTax will prompt you at the end, when it checks for errors.

This holds true as well if you are filing an amended return.

[beacon19]

Thank you!

[SForrestLO]

@beacon19

You're welcome. 

[redz7yadhjjqy8jk]

It is now 2023.  Why doesn't turbotax clarify the wording on this question?  

I came upon it while being interviewed for a possible underpayment in last year's state taxes.  After asking me questions about the answers to certain lines in last year's return, it asks "Date Return Filled" (referring to the past obviously)  "Enter the date you will file your New York State return" (referring to the future)

So which is it?  When I filed the 2021 return last year, or when I will be filing the 2022 returns this year?  Thanks.

[JulieS]

This question is asking what date the return you are working on now will be filed. 

You should enter today's date, or a date in the near future, on which you plan to file and pay your state taxes.  

[luislast]

Your question is not clear. Since "It is now 2023," presumably you are filing 2022 taxes. The exception to this if you are amending, or may need to amend, a prior year return (2021 or earlier) or if you are estimating payments for 2023. Do any of these two cases apply?

If not, you are being asked when you will be filing your 2022 taxes. The date is not critical, as long as you file on or before the deadline, which this year ("It is now 2023") is 18 April 2023. As I type this, it is 16 April 2023, so the only dates you can enter are 16, 17, or 18 April 2023. You should enter 18 April 2023 if you cannot file immediately.