How does Turbo Tax Deluxe 2023 determine the NC State taxable income?

[jlb14]

Why is my NC state taxable income a negative number?

[JohnW152 · Accepted solution]

It's fine if your taxable income on line 14 of Form D-400 is negative.  Rest assured that the state program is working as intended.

According to Line 14 – North Carolina Taxable Income in the North Carolina Individual Income Tax Instructions:

If North Carolina taxable income is negative, enter the amount on Line 14 and fill in the circle next to the line to indicate the amount is negative.

Form D-400 starts with your federal AGI, then includes additions to and deductions from federal AGI.  Then you claim a child deduction, if eligible, and either the state standard deduction or itemized deductions to arrive at Your North Carolina taxable income.

[SteamTrain]

IF your NC standard Deduction (or NC Itemized deduction) is greater than your Adjusted NC Gross (line 8 of the NC D-400), then NC apparently allows the tax return to show a negative number.   

Some state and federal forms have you enter a zero in some lines of their forms if the number goes negative...but apparently not NC for this particular line.