E filing costs and options

[maytonh]

Hello- I am ready to e-file my taxes.  TT offers to file both federal and state and gives me the cost to file state.

If I file only federal now, and come back to file state later, will the cost be the same?  Or does this state filing cost only apply if I file both at the same time?  Maybe this is a bad approach, but I like to file my federal and get that accepted before filing state, since any mistakes on federal will affect my state return.   Thanks for any advice and insight!

[bluedeb · Accepted solution]

With the CD/Download software, there is a charge to e-file a State return, whether you e-file with your Federal or not.  To avoid the e-file charge, you can mail in your State return.

Although you can e-file your federal and state taxes together, if you choose to e-file your federal first, you'll have to wait until that return has been accepted before you can e-file your state.

If your federal hasn't been accepted, or you printed and mailed it, you won't be able to e-file your state but you can print and mail a paper return.

Married filers: If you e-filed your federal using the joint married status, but you want to e-file your state returns separately, only one of you will be able to e-file. The other must paper-file their state return.