Can I still file my federal return while waiting for the state forms to become available? Or do both federal and state have to be submitted simultaneously?

[BILLYCLUB22]

Last time I tried to do that, I spoke to a customer service rep, and she said I can proceed to file my federal return, and file the state return later. When I did that, both returns got submitted. And somehow the state accepted my return even without the new state forms?

[rjs · Accepted solution]

Except for Arkansas, you can e-file your federal tax return now, and e-file your state tax return later.

When you start the File process, the first screen asks you to select e-file or file by mail. If you select e-file, the next screen says "Select the Returns You're Ready to E-file." Read the screen carefully. At the bottom of that screen you can select "E-file my federal return now" and "Do not e-file my state return now." Then proceed to e-file just your federal return. The very last screen says "Transmit Your Returns" and has an orange button that says "Transmit my returns now." When you click that button it actually sends your return. Before you click it, look at the top of that screen. It tells you which returns it's going to transmit. If it lists the state, don't click the orange button.

Arkansas requires that you e-file the federal and state tax returns together. Or you can e-file just the federal and file the state by mail. But you can't e-file the Arkansas state return later, separately from the federal.