I see a lot of people here saying it's impossible to pay your state income tax liability with your federal return; while that is correct, it is possible for your federal refund to be adjusted to pay previously delinquent state tax liabilities. IE You submitted your 2023 federal tax and had a refund of $1000. If you owed state income tax from 2021 for, say, $200, the federal refund can be adjusted to $800 and the $200 applied to your previously owed tax liabilities. You'll get a letter in the mail explaining the adjustment, how much it was, and where it went.
It's also possible for your state refund to withhold the same previously owed tax liabilities from your current year's state refund. Again, you'll get a letter in the mail from your state dept of rev. explaining the adjustment, how much it was, and where it went.
In some cases the federal and state refunds could/will be adjusted to pay the same exact previously owed tax liability, effectively double paying the owed amount. Pay close attention to the letters you get explaining the adjustments and make sure it isn't the same item. If this happens contact your state dept of rev. and see how this can be resolved.
I hope this clears up some of the confusion I've been seeing.
