Regional Income Tax Ohio

[Bill251]

Can Turbo Tax be used to file RITA? We only lived in Ohio for the last three months of 2015. When I try to file online it shows that we owe for the whole year.

[Hal_Al · Accepted solution]

Yes, turbotax can be used to prepare a RITA return. But, it cannot be e-filed. It has to be printed and mailed.

I actually find it easier to fill out a city return by hand or at the city, CCA or RITA web site, than to use TT. Things don't happen automatically and you need to know what you’re doing. The actual  RITA/city forms are easier to follow than the TT interview.  http://www.ritaohio.com/. 

[mjbudenz]

There is a "flaw" in the Turbo Tax program when it comes to RITA.  When calculating the tax owed, Turbo Tax looks at Box 19 and calculates the tax based on the Local Wages.  However, RITA looks at boxes 3, 5, 16, and 18 and will select the highest amount to compute the tax owed.  Typically, boxes 3, 5, and 18 will be the same, but in some instances, they are not.  Turbo Tax needs to tweak the programming to look at the highest amount.

[wsdenneen]

I thought TurboTax filed my 2016 RITA form for me, until RITA contacted me in 2018 telling me I never filed. It ended up costing me a $150 late filing fee. I'm angry at TurboTax for its confusing and misleading instructions regarding RITA.

[xmasbaby0]

You can use TT to prepare a RITA return but YOU have to initiate it in the state program.  It is far easier to just use the RITA website and take care of it yourself.  If you are just hearing from RITA about 2016 you had better check and see what you did for 2017. <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.ritaohio.com/">http://www.ritaohio.com/</a>.

[Hal_Al]

Not only does TT not automatically prepare a RITA return*, even when it does prepare one, it cannot be e-filed. You have to print and mail it.

*You have to initiate a RITA return, in the Ohio software, but TurboTax does ask you if you want to do one**.

**At the screen, in the Ohio program, titled
 "A few things before we wrap up your state taxes"
      scroll down to Ohio City taxes.
Or, later
"Your 2016 Ohio Taxes are ready for us to check"
    -Click Other situations
    -Scroll down to Ohio City taxes.