topic Re: E-file state without federal in After you file

E-file state without federal

gjcoram — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 22:47:36 GMT

I e-filed my federal return a few weeks ago with TurboTax On-Line; now I want to file my state return with the Desktop version. However, the Desktop version says I can't file the state without e-filing the federal ... I went to File > Electronic Filing > Check Electronic Filing Status and it says it was accepted, but it still won't let me e-file the state.

(The on-line version wants $59 to activate the state; I bought the download version to help my daughter, and the download version lets you file 3 (?) state returns.)

Re: E-file state without federal

xmasbaby0 — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 00:02:15 GMT

You have kind of a confused mess. You cannot "mix and match" using online and desktop software. You cannot e-file a state return unless you have e-filed a federal return. And you did indeed e-file federal but you used online software. Now you are trying to use desktop software to prepare a state return. The only way you might be able to make that work for you is to prepare a federal return AGAIN------make it match the one one you already filed-----then prepare the state. You will have to file by mail. You will not mail the federal one since you already e-filed it, but you can mail the state that you prepared using desktop. Your desktop software will have no way to recognize that you e-filed federal online, so you will not be able to e-file state.

Re: E-file state without federal

gjcoram — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 00:50:33 GMT

"Your desktop software will have no way to recognize that you e-filed federal online" --- well, it does, though, because the Desktop software File menu has that option I mentioned, where it checked my filing status and found it had been accepted.

Re: E-file state without federal

xmasbaby0 — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 01:09:54 GMT

Your desktop software does not have any of the information from the federal return you prepared online even if it is showing that you e-filed. The only way you are going to get information into a state return using that desktop software is to prepare a federal return that matches the one you already filed so that the information flows from the federal to the state return. There is a way to switch from online to desktop but I am not sure if it will allow you to do that AFTER you already e-filed.

I doubt that you will be able to e-file the state return----but see what it will let you do once you get the state prepared. Worst case---you save the $25 state e-file fee and pay for a stamp to mail the state.

Re: E-file state without federal

xmasbaby0 — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 01:13:07 GMT

Here is how to switch to desktop from online----again----I do not know if you can do this after you already e-filed that federal return.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/choosing-a-product/help/how-do-i-switch-from-turbotax-online-to-the-turbotax-software/00/26129

@VolvoGirl Do you know if it is possible to switch from online to desktop after e-filing federal so user would not have to prepare federal again?

Re: E-file state without federal

gjcoram — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 01:17:06 GMT

At some point, I did already download my .tax file from the online version and started up the Desktop version (I think it was before I finished up and filed using the online version). So I already have all my federal info in the Desktop version, and it used that info to start the state version. I'm all ready to file the state, and yes, I could print it out, but I was hoping to e-file to get the refund sooner.

Re: E-file state without federal

xmasbaby0 — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 01:20:48 GMT

So when you said you filed using online---that was not what happened? You started with online and switched to desktop before you filed? No wonder it is showing that you e-filed using desktop......so, sure, just prepare and e-file your state return. All that stuff I tried to tell you about online and desktop was not necessary if you switched to desktop before you e-filed. And....if you e-file using desktop there is a $25 state e-file fee.

Re: E-file state without federal

VolvoGirl — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 01:23:24 GMT

@xmasbaby0 Sure I don’t see why you couldn’t switch to Desktop after Efiling.

@gjcoram since it does show federal accepted in the Desktop program have you tried Efiling state? As far as I remember no one has ever tried or asked that.

Re: E-file state without federal

xmasbaby0 — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 01:29:39 GMT

@VolvoGirl @gjcoram

"I e-filed my federal return a few weeks ago with TurboTax On-Line"

That statement turned out to be incorrect; the return was actually e-filed using the desktop software that the user switched to before e-filing.....so all the software gymnastics I thought they might need turned out to be unnecessary after all. @gjcoram Good luck with the state e-file!

Re: E-file state without federal

gjcoram — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 01:30:26 GMT

Yes, I tried e-filing state, and it says "You Cannot E-file This Return. We know it's not what you wanted to hear at this point. ... This return cannot be e-filed before your federal return has been e-filed. You'll need to e-file this return at the same time as your federal return, or after your federal return has been e-filed."

Re: E-file state without federal

gjcoram — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 01:33:24 GMT

No, I e-filed with TurboTax online. I had downloaded the .tax file when I was about 99% done with federal, started playing around with the Desktop version, but then went back and e-filed using the on-line version.

(Yes, I know I made my life complicated. I have been using TT Online for a few years, but this year, I'm helping my daughter and my mom, and the Desktop version lets you file 5 federal returns whereas the online version wants each person to pay separately.)

Re: E-file state without federal

VolvoGirl — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 01:35:26 GMT

Ok. Then download the newest Online .tax2024 file and open it in the Desktop program. See what that does about state.

Re: E-file state without federal

xmasbaby0 — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 01:37:54 GMT

If you use Forms mode in your desktop software do you see your 2024 federal Form 1040? We cannot tell what you have done.

Re: E-file state without federal

gjcoram — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 01:41:19 GMT

@VolvoGirl - Indeed! Now it shows the federal has been filed. Thank you!

Re: E-file state without federal

VolvoGirl — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 01:48:40 GMT

@gjcoram Keep us posted. Will it let you efile state?

Re: E-file state without federal

gjcoram — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 10:37:38 GMT

Yes, it did - and asked for the $25 e-filing fee. (I had hoped that, since I had paid once for my daughter, that this had enabled the e-filing feature - like how I only had to pay for the state edition once. But alas, no.)

Re: E-file state without federal

xmasbaby0 — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 13:05:11 GMT

When you use desktop software there is always a fee for every state return you e-file. The way to avoid the state e-file fee is to print and mail the state returns.