Thank you, Opus 17, for your reply. I appreciate your explanation of reason for the security measure, and how in principle it should work. But it seems like that is NOT how it works!
As I stated in Step 1 of my post, yes, my federal return has indeed been accepted. Therefore, according to your understanding (which I also accept to be reasonable), Turbotax must now allow me to e-file my California return. But it does not!
Of course I e-filed my federal return, and the only reason I did not e-file my state return at the same time was the ridiculous $250 fee that Turbotax error demanded. Regardless of this error, if Turbotax has this security measure that you describe (requiring simultaneous e-filing of the state return with the federal one), then Turbotax must inform the users. The fact that Turbotax does not is itself a HUGE DESIGN BUG! Why aren't the users warned/informed that by e-filing their federal return, they forego the possibility of e-filing their state return at a later date (even after their federal return has been accepted by the IRS)?
Printing and retyping my California return on the CalFile site is a lousy option. I don't fancy typing in 16 pages of numbers all over again! This totally sucks!!!
