In NJ return interview there will be a point in the interview that you have to select to remove the NY W-2 or it will double count the income..(note removing the NJ can also be done but will lead to a lot of adjustments for after tax in NJ items that are pretax for other states and the fed) that are so check to remove the NY wages (you always remove the state you don't reside in wages unless your w-2 didn't report income to your resident state). Box 15 on your w-2 should have 2 lines with the same employee state id number. and box 16 and 17 will differ for each state but you should only enter the w-2 in once....
NJ number will be higher as NJ taxes healthcare benefits. NY number normally matches federal number.
Because NY and NJ reporting are different amounts TT is just wanting to be clear that it wasn't 2 separate activities.
Make sure you finish your non-resident state return prior to starting your residence or the credit for taxes paid to other states calculation will be problematic. Dont forget that income for dividend, interest, cap gains, should be removed from the NY column when doing the NY return as those income items are only resident state (exceptions may be for stock options earned income may be allocated to work state).During the NJ interview you will get a credit for taxes paid to NY in a separate part of the interview, do note the income taxed by NY and NJ are calculated differently and the tax rates are not the same so you will not get a full credit). States tax you at the rate as if all income was earned there and then credit you for the actual earned there/total income so you pay a higher rate but only on the % of income earned there.
In the NY interview, you are a non-resident and it starts with Federal income... it should not pick up the NJ amounts.
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