Filing NY return - electronic vs mailing

GGGGary554 — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 07:08:34 GMT

I am a Pennsylvania resident filing a nonresident NY return for some land I sold in 2021. Went through the Federal and New York interviews mostly without issue. Got to the 'check for errors' screen - got one error saying that, because of some forms required on my NY return, I could not e-file it. OK, no problem, I'll mail it. Several screens later got a message that, in NY, if you use any electronic tax preparation software (TurboTax among them), you are required, BY LAW, to e-file your return. My thought - 'That's weird - let me continue'. When I got to the actual 'filing' section, NY was not available to e-file. When I printed my copy, the top page was instructions on how to mail in my return. The next page was instructions on how to e-file, again saying that since I had used TurboTax I was required to e-file my return. I ended up ignoring the e-file warning (since TT hadn't even given me the option) and mailed in my return. I'm just wondering if this is some kind of glitch in the program?

Re: Filing NY return - electronic vs mailing

LenaH — Sat, 26 Mar 2022 12:22:35 GMT

No. This is not a glitch in the system. Per NYS, you're required to electronically file your return if you meet all three of the following conditions:

You use software to prepare your own personal income tax return
Your software supports the electronic filing of your return
You have broadband Internet access.

Since one of the forms needed on your return was not able to be e-filed, the software did not support the electronic filing of your return. Therefore, you are allowed to mail in your return.

NYS does not assess a penalty for mailing in your return.

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Filing NY return - electronic vs mailing

Re: Filing NY return - electronic vs mailing