Box 16 on W2

[BrooksFamily5]

I am working on my daughter's taxes (she is 17) and we live in NH with no state income tax but her employer but in amount for box 16.  It's the same amount as in box 1.  They entered in NH under state for box 15 but left the Employer's State ID number blank and box 17 for State Income tax is also blank.  Turbotax won't process her taxes because of this.  Is it an error on her employer's side?  I don't know why they would put in some information but not all???

[VolvoGirl]

Leave boxes 15,16, & 17 all BLANK, empty, no spaces. 

[BrooksFamily5]

So it's OK to leave them blank even though there is information on them?  Won't the IRS question why I left them blank when there is information in them?

[ErnieS0 · Accepted solution]

No, IRS will not question why those boxes are blank. Boxes 16-20 are state and local tax boxes. They have no impact on your federal tax return unless there is withholding in Boxes 17 (state tax) or 19 (local tax).

New Hampshire has no income tax and there is no state or local tax withheld, so leaving those boxes blank will not affect your daughter's federal tax return or draw attention from the IRS.

[BrooksFamily5]

Thank you so much for your help!!