topic My employer didn't withhold state tax for me on W-2. I have to pay it myself in the state return. How to reflect it in turbotax in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

My employer didn't withhold state tax for me on W-2. I have to pay it myself in the state return. How to reflect it in turbotax

manbeing — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 09:58:28 GMT

My employer didn't withhold 2022 state tax. Now I have to file state return with the taxes I owed in 2022.

How can use turbo tax software to reflect this situation that I will pay the state taxes I am owing?

Re: My employer didn't withhold state tax for me on W-2. I have to pay it myself in the state return. How to reflect it in turbotax

VolvoGirl — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 23:10:44 GMT

Nothing you have to do. If you have a State Tax Due you just pay it either with a check or direct debit to your bank account or credit card. Or you can probably pay it directly online on the State's website. You don't need to list the payment on your return. Your tax return will always show the refund or tax due amount. It is not updated when you pay it.

Re: My employer didn't withhold state tax for me on W-2. I have to pay it myself in the state return. How to reflect it in turbotax

xmasbaby0 — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 23:11:42 GMT

You will enter your W-2 into the federal software like you enter every W-2. The information flows from the federal return to the state return. If the employ withheld no state tax and your box 17 is blank, that is how you enter the W-2. If it turns out that you owe some state tax, you will need to pay by April 18. (and have a conversation with the employer about withholding state tax going forward...)

Re: My employer didn't withhold state tax for me on W-2. I have to pay it myself in the state return. How to reflect it in turbotax

manbeing — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 23:44:46 GMT

@VolvoGirl @xmasbaby0 Thanks for your reply. I think i need to restate my question: If I don't enter the state tax amount I will pay/owe, will it affect the accuracy of my federal tax return ? (I was under impression that paid state taxes can be claimed as some tax credits/deductions in calculating federal taxes?)

Re: My employer didn't withhold state tax for me on W-2. I have to pay it myself in the state return. How to reflect it in turbotax

SteamTrain — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 00:25:51 GMT

It depends on when you actually pay those taxes to the state. IF you pay state taxes due for your 2022 State tax return, now....meaning during 2023, then those state $$ paid are a "potential" Federal income deduction on your Federal 2023 tax return you will file next year. So the $$ due & paid now, don't end up on the 2022 Federal tax return you are preparing now.

Now, if the employer had withheld state taxes on your pay last year, during 2022, then those would be a "potential" Federal income deduction for your 2022 Federal taxes.

I say "potential" deduction, because you cannot actually use that deduction unless the total of all yoru itemized deductions is greater than the Standard Deduction for your particular filing status. i.e, you normally get to use the greater of the two.

(THough, people who file as Married Filing Separately (MFS ) have some restrictions that may work against that general rule)

Re: My employer didn't withhold state tax for me on W-2. I have to pay it myself in the state return. How to reflect it in turbotax

VolvoGirl — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 00:28:40 GMT

@SteamTrain I would give you 10 thumbs up!