Confirmation of a State Tax e-file

[MartyDC]

 I am long-time, expert user of TT.  I have often told people that they don't need to pay a preparer, TT can walk anyone thru the process.  The program is the best available and worth what it costs.

However, until this year, I have never used TT to e-file my state return.  This year I made the mistake of asking TT to e-file my state return along with my Federal.  When Maryland did not take the amount I owed out of my checking on the date chosen, I realized, to my chagrin, that UNLIKE federal returns, TT does NOT provide any confirmation that the return was, in fact, filed!  They tell you to check with your State tax people.  Maryland only lets you check on REFUNDS.  You have no way of checking if they have received the return.   

I spent an hour today filing my Maryland return, and paying the tax due, using the Maryland web site.  I will NEVER advise anyone to e-file their State Return using TT until they are capable of setting up a confirmation process similar to what they have with the IRS.  Writing off the $20 as a lesson learned. 

[DoninGA]

After completing the File section and e-filing your tax return you will receive two emails from TurboTax. The first email when your tax return was transmitted and the second email when the tax return has either been accepted or rejected.

Using the TurboTax desktop editions, you can also use the Check Electronic Filing Status under File located in the upper left of the desktop program screen.

[MartyDC]

Your reply is correct for Federal Returns.  There is NO similar confirmation process for STATE returns!

[VolvoGirl]

Looks like you used the Desktop program?  Sounds like you didn't finish filing the state return after paying for the state efile.  You do get separate accepted emails, one for federal and  one for State.

And you can check the efile status directly in the Desktop program.  Go up to File at the very top bar.  Then Electronic Filing, then Check Status.

And you can go to Forms mode and find the Filing instructions for federal and state.  And if you save the pdf it will have filing instructions page and my Calif return has an E-file return authorization page.  There may be other ways to check too.

[VolvoGirl]

And here's the emails I got back.  Just the lines in my Thunderbird email program, not the actual emails.  So if you didn't get an Accepted or Rejected email for state then you didn't finish filing state.

[MartyDC]

Thanks.  It did occur to me, after the fact, that it was "operator error"  Kind of ironic given that I consider myself such a TT expert!  Maryland has improved its tax website and my return isn't that complicated so I think I'll just save the $25 and continue my practice of only using TT to efile my Fed return.