To clarify
Did you do any work physically in LA or MD?
Is your employer physically located in LA or MD?
I work and live in NJ. My employer is in NJ. I went to LA and MD during storms to work on power lines
You may have a non-resident filing requirement in LA and MD. Also did your employer withhold taxes from those states? If so, you will need to file for any refunds. In both cases you have state sourced income for performing a service in the state and receiving income for those services.
Here are the filing requirements for LA. LA requires non-residents with income from LA sources who file a federal return to file a LA state return.
Here are the filing requirements for MD. MD requires a non-resident with income from MD sources that exceeds the thresholds listed in the link for your filing status to file a MD state return.
In the "My Info" section you will scroll down to the "Other State Income" topic and "Edit". There you will select "Yes" you have income from another state and select the state. Then you can add another state as needed.
Note: You should complete all non-resident returns first and take note of the income and the tax on the income for each non-resident state. You will use that information in your resident return to claim a credit for taxes paid to another state. This will mitigate the double taxation as your resident state is taxing all income from all sources.
Thank you. Yes, my employer withheld tax on my full NJ income.
Q. How can box 1 wages be the same as ONE of 3 states in box 16?
A. It tells you that all your income is taxable by NJ (your resident state), even the income earned out of state. But NJ will give you a credit, or partial credit, for the tax paid to the other states.
Q. Does Box 16 have to total to box 1?
A. No, for the reason stated. But, sometimes that may cause a problem in TT. Be alert.