Box 20 Locality Name and next box asking for Associated State

[aztec5goal]

My son works in CT and lives in NYC.  Boxes 16, 17 and 18 detail his CT wages and taxes.  Box 19 shows Local Income Tax and Box 20 lists Locality Name as "NYC".  Next box on Turbo tax asks "associated state."  would this be NY (or CT)????

[ChristinaS]

Boxes 18 to 20 are the NYC local tax. Choose "NYC" and "New York" as the associated state.

Box 18 to 20 is not Connecticut-related. He earned his wages in CT, but the local tax is because he lives in NYC. Only Box 15 to 17 is Connecticut tax-related. If he lived in Connecticut, he wouldn't have anything in boxes 18 to 20, as Connecticut does not impose a local tax on its residents or employees.

[onceagainaidan]

to clarify, he actually has 2 line entries for Box 15-17.  The 1st details CT wages and income tax (and then lists figures for Boxes 18-20 as discussed above).  Line 2 shows NY info for Boxes 15 to 17 (and Boxes 18-20 are blank).  Does this change your answer or is "NYC" and New York" still correct?

[ChristinaS]

What is the local tax? Is it like $25- $150? Connecticut doesn't have local tax, but sometimes employers put payroll taxes (like unemployment or disability) as local taxes (which is confusing/ irritating). They belong in Box 14 of the W2.
If you see the words "NYC" anywhere, that is New York City tax. So, the associated state can't be anything other than NY

[ChristinaS]

I do think its surprising if his employer withheld NYC resident tax, but its not impossible. You did say you saw "NYC" , so that's a meaningful piece of information.