What if the amount listed by TurboTax for my 2023 state tax refund disagrees with the amount listed on my tax return forms?

[xmasbaby0]

Where ---- exactly--- on TurboTax are you seeing the amount for your state refund?   What state and on what line of the tax form are you seeing the state refund amount?

[docwell5]

In TurboTax, it's listed in the section titled State and Local Tax Refund Summary and under Total Refunds for Illinois 2023. For the actual Illinois 2023 state tax return, a different amount is listed on lines 36 and 37.

[xmasbaby0]

@docwell5 That summary nets out the difference between a federal refund and a state tax owed, the difference between a federal tax owed and a state refund, or adds both refunds or tax due amounts  together.

The actual amount of your federal refund is on line 35a of your federal Form 1040---or if you owe federal tax it is on line 37.

If you are getting a refund from IL for 2023 the amount is on line 36 of your IL return; an amount owed to IL is on line 40.

[docwell5]

Thanks for your help. 

Should I be alarmed if the amount listed in the TurboTax State and Local Tax Refund Summary for the total refund amount for Illinois 2023 differs than the amount listed on line 36 of the Illinois 2023 return?

It differs by about $100.

That (Illinois) was my only state/local tax refund for 2023.

Should I change the amount in the summary in TurboTax or leave it alone?

[xmasbaby0]

The amounts on the actual tax forms are the ones to take seriously.  

[SteamTrain]

@docwell5 

Yes, during the 2024 review of, and entry of the 2023 IL state refund?

.....the amount that TTX shows as a 2024 IL refund can differ some by what is on line 37 of the IL-1040.

The amount that TTX  shows (if higher), is usually correct.

......IF..IF..you had any "Use Tax" on line 21 of the 2023 IL-1040, or if you made any refund "donations" showing on line 34 of the 2023 IL-1040.  Those two values must be added to the value on line 37 of the IL-1040 to get the Federally-reportable IL State refund.

1) The Use-Tax on line 21 is not an income tax...so it must be added back.

2)  The checkoff donation on line 34 is also not an income tax,...but any amount on that line can be included as a potential Federal 2024 charity deduction. 

(When I do that donation for part of my NC tax refund, TTX automatically enters it as a charitable deduction the next year....provided that you always transfer in the prior year's TTX data every successive year)

[docwell5]

Thank you SO MUCH. That is absolutely the discrepancy.

I am thankful for your explanation.

And...I am disappointed in TTX that there is not any additional explanation/information in that section to explain the discrepancy between the two amounts.

TTX: if you are listening, please add more explanation and guidance to this section and similar topics!