I use TurboTax Desktop Premier. I just noticed something about New York, that if you itemized on the federal return, you have to itemize on the State. (at least I think that is the case) Now in the 2021 form, it is asking me if I itemized the New York taxes. When I look at the 2020 IT-201 form, I see that TurboTax checked the "Itemized" checkbox. So I assume it determined that it was better than the standard deduction.
But when I look at the 1040, I don't think it is itemized. But it is difficult to tell what was done on the federal form. The form says that for married filing separately, the amount is $24,800. But the amount that is in line 12 is $27,400. When I double click on that until it takes me to the Schedule A form, that shows $13,797. So it looks like the standard deduction should be taken.
But where did TurboTax get the $27,400 instead of $24,800?
AND, if it IS the standard deduction, why was I allowed to take the itemized deduction in the New York taxes?
AND the 2021 form, when I tell it I took the itemized as Form IT-201 one says, then says "Our records say you got the standard deduction in 2020". So I'm confused as to what I should be telling it.
Can someone clear me up on this? (I hope I've given sufficient information to help me out)
(one of the confusing facts is that my wife, as a retired teacher, gets a pension that is not taxable in New York, but is taxable in the feds. So that might explain why one would try to be Standard and the other Itemized, but I still think maybe it should not have allowed that on the New York).
