Your estimated sales tax for the year is calculated based on your local
sales tax rate and your income. If you make a major purchase, such as
your new vehicle, that is added in. This is a major break for the
taxpayers who live in a state that has no state income tax.
You can deduct either the state income taxes you paid or the calculated
sales tax - but you cannot deduct both. Turbo Tax will always deduct the
tax amount that gives you the larger deduction.
To enter your sales tax amounts:
- When you are in your return to amend, click on Federal Taxes
- Click on Deductions and Credits
- Scroll to Estimates and Other Taxes Paid
- Click on Show More if needed
- Click on the button beside Sales Tax
- On the next page you can click on Skip Sales Tax or Continue with Sales Tax
- If you click on Continue with Sales Tax, it is advisable that you click on Easy Guide on the next page.
You will be asked for various information, what your sales tax rate is, whether or not you had any major purchases, if you had nontaxable income, etc. (All things that can effect your sales tax deduction).
Work your way on through. You will be given a comparison of income tax deduction vs. sales tax deduction and can actually choose to take the lesser amount. (See the screenshot below)
