Filing 2019 WI State Income Tax late and how it impacts 2020 Federal Income Tax

[KYS821]

Hi there~

I'm filing our 2019 taxes now along with our 2020 taxes. Since I didn't technically receive our 2019 State Refund in 2020, should I not include that as income on the 2020 form? I will receive the refund in 2021. So where the system generates from my 2019 return, $,$$$ State Refund amount, I should change that and enter $0 correct? I Our State of WI 2019 refund would then  be claimed on my 2021 federal taxes along with our 2020 WI State income tax refund, correct?  Nothing like adding extra confusion to an already confusing return, right?

Thanks so much for your assistance!!

Karen

[xmasbaby0]

No!    You cannot combine tax years.   Each tax year must be filed separately.   You cannot put 2019 income on a 2020 tax return.   You can ONLY enter 2020 income on a 2020 tax return.  

If you did not prepare a 2019 state return then you can do that---but it has to be prepared on its own.   If you used TurboTax for your 2019 federal return you can download the 2019 software to prepare the 2019 WI return or you can get the paper form from the state and prepare it by hand to mail in.  Either way--it cannot be e-filed. A 2019 return must be submitted by mail.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900990-how-do-i-file-a-prior-year-tax-return

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/state-taxes/help/how-do-i-contact-my-state-department-of-revenue/0...

[KYS821]

Sorry... I may have been confusing.  I am filing SEPERATE returns for 2019 and 2020.  I completed the 2019 Federal and State to print out.  My question is... since 2020 Federal Turbo Tax program now automatically populates my 2019 state refund as income, (system probably assumes it was filed and received in 2020 as it should have been) and we didn't receive the actual refund yet in our bank since we are filing late, I would change that entry to $0 and claim 2019's State Tax Refund in 2021, correct?

[xmasbaby0]

Yes----that is correct.   You do not enter the state refund until the year that you actually receive the refund.  And even then--you only have to enter it if you itemized deductions.   If you used your standard deduction you do not have to enter it.

[KYS821]

Perfect!  Thanks so much!!  Have a great day!