Will state refund be taken if i owe federal taxes?

[ModestaL]

No, Federal income taxes owed cannot be paid or deducted by a State income tax refund. The IRS and State maintain their own, separate tax collection systems. 

[lawrence-dring]

If that is true.  Then why is my state refund
Short what I owed for federal?

[SweetieJean]

Are you talking about back taxes, or current ones?

[lawrence-dring]

Current taxes

[lawrence-dring]

I paid what I owed to federal. So why is my state refund short  The exact amount that I owed federal.