When it asks for "Total of all your payments and withholding" when referring to my state tax refund is it asking for the total listed on my W-2 for state withholdings?

[KrisD15]

Yes, if that was the only state withholding you had in 2023.

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 for that state. The total of all your payments and withholding for 2023 will be listed on your 2023 state return.

[kacee]

I've read several posts and feel like there's some conflicting info that I need clarified. I itemized on my 2023 return, so should I be getting the "total of all your payments and withholding" from the 2023 Schedule A line 5d or from the 2023 State Tax Return line name "Total Payments/Credits"?

Thanks!

[KrisD15]

Schedule A line 5d is more accurate if you paid state tax to more than one state, but the amount should usually be the same if you only pay tax to one state. 

"Total payments and credits" on a state return would include credits, as well as only the payments. 

You only want the payments. 

[kacee]

I only paid in one state and my Schedule A amount is more than the State Return amount. Which should I go with?

[MonikaK1]

If you used Schedule A Line D, that amount may include other state and local taxes, such as real estate and personal property tax. For purposes of determining whether you need to report the state income tax refund as income, only look at the income taxes you paid, line 5a. That should match your withholding and other payments during 2023.

@kacee 

[kacee]

5a is less than 5d but both are higher than my State Return. I guess I'll just go with 5a.

Thank you.