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Problems E-filing Federal and NY State Returns

I filed my 2020 returns using Turbotax. 

My computer crashed and I lost access to those files when I had to purchase a new computer.

I used Turbotax again for 2021and because I didn't have the 2020 file, I needed to provide my 2020 AGI in order to file in 2021.  When I filed, the Federal and State returns were rejected because my AGI didn't match the 2020 records according to the IRS.

I requested and received a "Tax Return Transcript" for 2020 and the AGI listed on the transcript matched what I reported in Turbotax for 2021.

Since I keep getting rejected and the AGI is correct, I decided to file my Federal return by mail.  Turbotax tells me I have to file my NY State return via E-File, however, I now get a message saying I can't file the State return until the Federal is E-Filed. 

How Cam I E-File my State return?

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Accepted Solutions
ee-ea
Level 15

Problems E-filing Federal and NY State Returns

The reason that you're experiencing difficultly with e-filing a New York state tax return is almost certainly due to the fact that the TurboTax software won't allow that to happen, when the user has first selected (or was forced into) the paper file option for their federal tax return.  There is no way to "fix" this, or to change the software program to accommodate a New York state e-file. 

The underlying reasons for this, however, are that the New York Department of Taxation and Finance needs a taxpayer's Form 1040 (federal return) in order to process the state return.  Where there exists no e-file version of the TurboTax user's federal tax return, it is not possible for the software to create one just for a New York e-file effort.  Also, in an effort to combat tax return identity fraud (theft), in cooperation with the state revenue authorities, it is not possible in TurboTax to e-file just a state tax return alone, without an accompanying e-file federal tax return.

Thus, despite New York's mandate for e-filing, you are left with a couple of reasonable choices. 

 

Probably the easiest thing to do, is to simply ignore the New York e-file mandate (for the very good reason that you are unable to comply in TurboTax, having already paper filed a federal tax return), and print and mail your state return to New York, along with signed copies of Pages 1 and 2 of your Form 1040.  Here is a link to the valid, official, New York mailing addresses that you can use for this paper filing purpose:

https://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/file/return_assembly_mail.htm

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1 Reply
ee-ea
Level 15

Problems E-filing Federal and NY State Returns

The reason that you're experiencing difficultly with e-filing a New York state tax return is almost certainly due to the fact that the TurboTax software won't allow that to happen, when the user has first selected (or was forced into) the paper file option for their federal tax return.  There is no way to "fix" this, or to change the software program to accommodate a New York state e-file. 

The underlying reasons for this, however, are that the New York Department of Taxation and Finance needs a taxpayer's Form 1040 (federal return) in order to process the state return.  Where there exists no e-file version of the TurboTax user's federal tax return, it is not possible for the software to create one just for a New York e-file effort.  Also, in an effort to combat tax return identity fraud (theft), in cooperation with the state revenue authorities, it is not possible in TurboTax to e-file just a state tax return alone, without an accompanying e-file federal tax return.

Thus, despite New York's mandate for e-filing, you are left with a couple of reasonable choices. 

 

Probably the easiest thing to do, is to simply ignore the New York e-file mandate (for the very good reason that you are unable to comply in TurboTax, having already paper filed a federal tax return), and print and mail your state return to New York, along with signed copies of Pages 1 and 2 of your Form 1040.  Here is a link to the valid, official, New York mailing addresses that you can use for this paper filing purpose:

https://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/file/return_assembly_mail.htm

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