Box 15 on his government retirement form ask State but not sure if I should put state we live in or where his retirement is coming from. I don't understand why it's called wages.
Please explain what kind of form you are trying to enter. And for what tax year. Do you have a W-2 or a 1099R?
Do not enter anything on the Form 1099-R for the retirement income until you actually receive the Form 1099-R from the plan administrator. The 1099-R is normally issued during the month of January for the income received in the prior year.
Unless the retiree submitted a State withholding certificate to the plan administrator for the state where they currently reside, there will not be any state income taxes withheld from the retirement income.
You are required to file a tax return and report all your worldwide income to the state where you physically live, or the state of your permanent residence, regardless of where the income is coming from. For example, if you live in Pennsylvania but are receiving retirement benefits from the state of New York, it is Pennsylvania taxable income and not New York taxable income.
In the unlikely event you are having tax withheld from the state which is the source of the income and not the state where you live, this can be adjusted on your tax return, post back for instructions if that turns out to be the case. But don’t assume now that’s going to happen, wait for the 1099R.