How can I find out what "Total of all your payments and withholding" means?

[noelled1999]

Currently trying to figure out what this means. I did not recieve a 1099-G

[Mike9241]

it's withholding from any and all sources like a w-2, ,etc. 

[KrisD15]

Yes, all state tax that was paid or withheld.

When it comes to a state refund being taxable, the issue is if you deducted the state tax on your previous Federal return, and then later get a refund of the state tax you deducted. 

Total of payments and withholding would be the state tax withheld on your 2023 documents that you claimed as a deduction on your 2023 Federal return.

If you took the Standard Deduction on your 2023 Federal return, you needn't report the refund. You don't even enter the 1099-G. 

Look at your 2023 Federal return. (You can find that in "You Tax Returns and Documents"). Look at the 2023 1040 line 12. Did you take the Standard Deduction or Itemize Deductions? If you Itemized Deductions, your tax return would include Schedule A. 

If you used the Standard Deduction, delete the State Tax Refund 1099-G from the TurboTax program if it was entered. You can keep a copy with your tax file, but it is not reported.

If you DID Itemize for the year of the refund (so if on your Tax Year 2023 Federal Return you Itemized and then got a state refund in 2024) you might need to pay tax on some or all of that refund. 

In that case, you need to go back and add up the state tax you paid in 2023. 

You can also look at your prior year return (2023 Federal Return Schedule A line 5d.)

@noelled1999

[amwise]

Hi @KrisD15 (or anyone who can help),

Your answer seems very clear, it's just I've been scouring the internet for an hour looking at several responses to this question and each one leads to a different answer.  So, to be sure I'm understanding you correctly, is the following true?  

I am filing my return for tax year 2024.  I DID itemize my 2023 tax year return.  My 2023 return box 5a is NOT checked (I didn't claim general sales tax).  I ended up with a refund paid to me in 2024.  I'm filling out my 2024 tax year return in TurboTax, Federal module, Wages & Income section, screen "Tell us about your refund".  Next to the question "Total of all your payments and withholding" I should be entering the amount found in my 2023 return Federal 1040 Schedule A line 5d "Add lines 5a through 5c"?  In other words, the sum of state/local income taxes + state/local real estate taxes + state/local sales taxes?

Thank you so much for any help, I've been very frustrated by this part of the return.

[IsabellaG]

If you click on the link "What does this include?" you're being asked to add up the amounts from your 2023 return for your state income taxes paid in: 

Amounts withheld on your W-2, W-2G, and 1099
- Estimated tax payments for 2023 (including any paid in 2024 for 2023 - it's common for the fourth quarterly payment to be made in January)
- Overpayment from 2022 applied toward your 2023 return
- Payments made with an extension of time to file
- Refundable credits

Not what's shown on your Federal Schedule A for real estate taxes or sales tax. Only the amounts for your state income tax, through withholding or estimated taxes or applying your 2022 refund to your 2023 tax.