Am I allowed to change the state on my W2 if it is blank?

[MariotaFan8]

I am filing my taxes and my out of state W2's which are from Tennessee do not show up on my state return because the state box on my W2 is left blank. I changed the state box on my W2 that was left blank (since Tennessee does not collect income tax) on my federal return to PA. If I leave it blank, the W2 does not show up on my PA return, but once I add PA it does. Am I allowed to do this? Also, I have already tried leaving the state box blank and said I make money in a different state since Tennessee doesn't collect state tax and that still doesn't work.

[BillM223]

Did you employer withhold money for another state besides Tennessee? Your employer should have put the state code in box 15. But if your employer didn't put an amount in box 17 or if your employer didn't withhold for any state at all, then you have no reason to modify your W-2.

And if you employer DID withhold money and send it to another state like PA, then you need a corrected W-2...and you need to confirm with your employer's payroll department that they actually sent the money to that state.

If I understand your situation correctly, it's entirely possible that your TN employer didn't withhold any money for PA, in which case you leave the boxes 15-17 blank (if they are on the W-2).

[MariotaFan8]

Yes so no state income tax was withheld, every box is left blank. When I go to file my PA state return the W2 from my out of state job won't show up unless I put PA in the state box. Is it a glitch? I asked this question about a month ago and my problem has never been resolved.

[TeresaM]

If there was no withholding of state taxes from your wages, then you do not need any entries in boxes 15, 16, and 17. 

In the first section of your return, My Info, please be sure you answer "yes" to the question "Did you make money in other states?" and select the other states. This should set up the questions for allotting your income for Pennsylvania.

[Hal_Al]

I assume you are a full year PA resident.  If so, you can enter PA in box 15 of your W-2, to get TurboTax (TT) to handle it properly.

As a full year resident, PA taxes all your income, regardless of where earned.  If you pay income tax to another state, PA will give you a credit*.  But TN doesn't have an income tax, so that's not an issue.

*except reciprocal states