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New Member
posted Feb 14, 2021 5:56:45 AM

I need to efile my state returen, but when I originally did my taxes, turbotax wouldn't let me. how do I do it now?

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1 Best answer
Level 15
Feb 14, 2021 8:29:56 AM

Did you e-file your Federal return & was it accepted?  Your Federal return must be accepted before you can e-file a State return separate.  

 

How do I e-file my state after I already filed my federal?

 

Although you can e-file your federal and state taxes together, if you choose to e-file your federal first, you'll have to wait until that return has been accepted before you can e-file your state.

 

If your federal hasn't been accepted, or you printed and mailed it, you won't be able to e-file your state but you can print and mail a paper return.

 

Married filers: If you e-filed your federal using the joint married status, but you want to e-file your state returns separately, only one of you will be able to e-file. The other must paper-file their state return.

TurboTax Online

  1. Sign in to TurboTax.
  2. Under Your tax returns & documents, select Show, and then select 2020.
  3. Now select Add a state (this reopens your return).
  4. Select State from the left menu (on mobile devices, tap in the upper-left corner to open the menu).
  5. On the Let's get your state taxes done right screen, select Continue and follow the instructions.

23 Replies
Level 15
Feb 14, 2021 8:29:56 AM

Did you e-file your Federal return & was it accepted?  Your Federal return must be accepted before you can e-file a State return separate.  

 

How do I e-file my state after I already filed my federal?

 

Although you can e-file your federal and state taxes together, if you choose to e-file your federal first, you'll have to wait until that return has been accepted before you can e-file your state.

 

If your federal hasn't been accepted, or you printed and mailed it, you won't be able to e-file your state but you can print and mail a paper return.

 

Married filers: If you e-filed your federal using the joint married status, but you want to e-file your state returns separately, only one of you will be able to e-file. The other must paper-file their state return.

TurboTax Online

  1. Sign in to TurboTax.
  2. Under Your tax returns & documents, select Show, and then select 2020.
  3. Now select Add a state (this reopens your return).
  4. Select State from the left menu (on mobile devices, tap in the upper-left corner to open the menu).
  5. On the Let's get your state taxes done right screen, select Continue and follow the instructions.

Level 1
Mar 10, 2021 5:57:28 PM

My Federal is showing accepted, however it will not allow me to efile a state without choosing a federal . Now what do I do? 

Intuit Alumni
Mar 10, 2021 6:24:15 PM

To file your state taxes please follow the steps below:

 

TurboTax Online

  1. Sign in to TurboTax.
  2. Under Your tax returns & documents, select Show, and then select 2020.
  3. Now select Add a state (this reopens your return).
  4. Select State from the left menu (on mobile devices, tap in the upper-left corner to open the menu).
  5. On the Let's get your state taxes done right screen, select Continue and follow the instructions.

TurboTax CD/Download software

With your return open, select the State Taxes tab near the top. This will take you to the state section and you can proceed from there.

 

Please click How do I e-file my state after I already filed my federal? to learn more.

Level 1
Mar 10, 2021 7:05:51 PM

I have tried the above directions, using the CD/ Software. I went into my State, and it will not allow me to file saying Efile requires a federal return - click back to select federal return to file.... I filed my federal while waiting for the state software on turbo tax to be updated. My Federal is in accepted status per Turbo tax. So please, tell me how I can efile my state without getting the error that I still need to efile federal. I appreciate the help

Level 15
Mar 10, 2021 7:10:45 PM

Try this,  You first need to update your program with the federal efile status.  Go up  to FILE - Electronic Filing - Check Electronic Filing Status.  Then save your return, go to FILE - SAVE.  Then close your return and reopen it and go though the File TAB again to file state.

Intuit Alumni
Mar 10, 2021 7:14:29 PM

Guidance on filing your state return at this point has been provided by clicking here.

Level 1
Mar 10, 2021 7:15:55 PM

HI, This still did not work,

Still getting error that I need to file federal with along with state 

Level 1
Mar 10, 2021 7:16:41 PM

This is not helpful at all. This is what is not working

Intuit Alumni
Mar 10, 2021 7:20:44 PM

Guidance on filing your state return at this point has been provided by clicking here.

Level 1
Mar 10, 2021 7:23:07 PM

Again Lindsay,

These steps do not work. My Federal is accepted and I am still getting the error that I need to file federal with state.

Level 15
Mar 10, 2021 7:27:52 PM

Please say specifically what you saw when you followed VolvoGirl's steps above.   Did those steps confirm it was accepted?

Level 1
Mar 10, 2021 7:30:50 PM

Hi, yes it says your 2020 federal return has been Accepted . Congratulations! the IRS has accepted this return and you're finished with your taxes.

Level 15
Mar 10, 2021 7:40:05 PM

@KnitW1t wrote:

Hi, yes it says your 2020 federal return has been Accepted . Congratulations! the IRS has accepted this return and you're finished with your taxes.

And I'll assume you did the rest of her suggestions to then save the file, etc.  The only additional thing I can think of is to close TurboTax.  Reboot your computer, then launch TurboTax and do a "check for updates."

 

Keep watching the thread a bit and see if anyone adds on.   If you continue to have the problem, and if no one comes up with another suggestion in this forum, you can phone TurboTax Support for realtime help with your issue.

 

Hours are 5AM-9PM Pacific (8AM-12 Midnight Eastern) 7 days/week.

 

You can use this contact form to get a phone number.
https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact

Level 15
Mar 10, 2021 7:51:12 PM

Just thought of something.  You are trying to file state in the same exact file that federal was filed and accepted in?  Just checking.  And you have updated the program?  Even if you update you might need to update a couple times to catch everything.  

Returning Member
Mar 13, 2021 9:02:20 AM

Didn't work!

Returning Member
Mar 13, 2021 9:06:00 AM

Same problem, real time help was no help!  They have $25 but offer no way to efile my state!

Level 15
Mar 13, 2021 9:09:50 AM

Please sign up on the recent FAQ for the state efile  error

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-topics/help/why-am-i-not-able-to-e-file-my-state-return-after-filing-my-federal-return/00/2064566 

Level 15
Mar 13, 2021 2:53:59 PM

If that link doesn't work see if this one copies better

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-topics/help/why-am-i-not-able-to-e-file-my-state-return-after-filing-my-federal-return/00/2064566 

Level 1
Mar 16, 2021 7:18:32 AM

I know your frustration KnitW1t  and you are not alone because I HAVE BEEN HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM....  This sounds like a BUG in TurboTax and they should fix it with an update!

It seems like if we did not eFiled Federal at the same time as State we can't eFile State afterwards????

BTW: I also tried all the suggestions above

Intuit Alumni
Mar 16, 2021 9:15:01 AM

This issue is scheduled to be resolved in a product update on March 19, 2021.

@Alex86

Returning Member
Oct 10, 2021 1:36:03 PM

That is not my email

New Member
Jun 9, 2023 9:35:15 PM

Hey am confused to is doing it to me and I went to turbo deluxe n it's not letting me do the state return smh 

Level 1
Apr 13, 2024 1:32:40 PM

To this day this is not fixed in Turbo Tax Desktop 2023. "Check E-file Status" shows Federal return is accepted with a "Congratulations, the IRS has accepted your return and you are done with your taxes.", but still refuses to e-file State Tax returns. With last years issues filing RDP and this year's program incompetence related to a simple boolean check, we will be switching to some other product and telling our friends and representatives about it. Seems like the only way to get rid of these large monopolies for something that should be automatically done by the gov't.