I'm finishing up my taxes and at a screen "How would you like to pay your federal taxes?". A few screens prior I choose to pay my federal tax by my state refund. Why?

[SECRET166]

Why am I asked twice about my federal tax payment?

[DoninGA]

You must have misunderstood something.  The federal taxes owed can never be paid from the state tax refund.  Only the TurboTax account fees can be paid from the federal tax refund using a third party processor and there is a $40 service charge for that option.

The federal taxes owed can be paid using a check, direct debit from a bank account or by credit card.

Go back and review Step1 for the TurboTax account fees and Step 2 in the File section to see exactly how you chose to pay the federal taxes owed.

[xmasbaby0]

You misunderstood.   It is impossible to pay your federal tax owed from a state refund.  You have to pay the federal tax yourself by one of several options available.  Those options do not include paying from your state refund.

The “summary” given to you by TurboTax must have confused you.  That summary just nets out the difference between a refund you are getting and an amount you owe.   Or it adds two refunds or tax “due” amounts together.

The federal and state treasuries are completely separate from each other.  

Your state tax due cannot be paid from a federal refund.

And….your federal tax due cannot be paid from a state refund.  

Neither refund can be used to pay the amount due to the other one.

If you owe tax due, you have to pay it yourself by the filing deadline on April 15, 2024.

 If you have federal tax due you can pay by mailing your payment with the 1040V voucher, (which has the address printed on it, having the payment taken out of a designated bank account, or you can pay directly on the IRS website. 

https://www.irs.gov/payments

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-payments/help/how-can-i-pay-my-federal-taxes/00/26212

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-payments/help/how-do-i-pay-my-irs-tax-due-with-a-check-or-mone... 

To apply for a payment plan with the IRS

Apply Online for a Payment Plan

You must pay your state tax due using the state’s preferred method of receiving payment.  For most states that will be by making a payment to the state’s own tax website, or by mailing a check or money order.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900884-what-are-my-options-for-getting-my-state-refund-or-for-pay...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901670-how-do-i-contact-my-state-department-of-revenue