Can I deduct mortgage interest I paid on my Alabama return under the home ownership expenses when I didn't deduct under my federal return?

[xmasbaby0]

If you want to skip entering your itemized deductions you can do that.  Many people will not have enough itemized deductions this year to itemize, and will just be getting their new higher standard deduction.  The thing is, though, that some of those deductions could make a difference on a state return even if they do not affect your federal return.  Information flows from your federal return to your state return, so it might not be a bad idea to go ahead and enter them anyhow.  It cannot hurt you.

The following states allow you to itemize deductions on just the state return: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, and Wisconsin, 

[AnnetteB6]

Yes, you can deduct your mortgage interest and other itemized deductions on your Alabama return even if you used the standard deduction on your Federal return.

If you already entered the itemized deduction items in the Federal return, they will transfer to the Alabama return.  Otherwise, you can enter them as part of the Alabama return.