Do we have to enter the estimated state tax payments we made in 2016 on the federal return when doing so is not reducing our federal tax?

[ajitvashi49]

Our 2016 income is more than our income for 2015. We were instructed to make estimated state tax payments. Now working on the taxes for the year 2016, we are getting a refund on our state tax even before we enter our estimated state tax payments we made during 2016. Our Federal tax is not reduced by entering estimated state tax payments ($2400).

[Kat · Accepted solution]

Your estimated tax payments (both federal and state) are entered under the federal portion of your program.  Then those payments will be fed into your state program automatically.

You definitely want to enter them so you'll get credit for those payments on your state return. (Your state refund will be even greater)!