MI 8453 Help

[Heavywater]

To e-file, turbotax is asking me for my previous year's return or amount due. Since this is for the state of michigan is it asking for the state's refund/amount due or my federal refund/amount due? I just moved to the state during the tax year.

[ReginaM]

In order to electronic file your tax return, TurboTax will ask you for your 2018 AGI.  Is this what you are referring to in your question?  If so, you can find your 2018 AGI in one of the following locations:

If you used TurboTax last year you can view your 2018 AGI by selecting Documents on the left hand side of your screen.  Select View Documents from: Select 2018 on the drop down menu.

OR

You can obtain a copy of last year's tax transcript online using IRS link:   Transcript 

OR

If you have a copy of your 2018 tax return, your AGI is located on line 7.

[Heavywater]

The AGI is not the issue, It is automatically inputted from my federal. My issue is that the software is also asking for: "amount of your refund or tax due last year". What I am trying to understand if this would be filled by my federal refund, or my state refund.

[KathrynG3 · Accepted solution]

It depends if you itemized your deductions or took the standard deduction whether this will even impact your return. 

You will need to access your 2018 state return to answer the questions. If you itemized the deductions, then any state refund received would be taxable income. 

Check on page 1 of Form 1040, line 9.

• If the value matches the details for your filing status in the left margin, then you took the standard deduction.
• If you see Schedule A among the 2018 forms, then you did itemize. The name of the form is always in the top left corner or bottom right corner of each page. 

@Heavywater

[Heavywater]

Understood. So because I was a non-resident of the state last near and earned no money in the state last year I would put in $0. for this item.

[KathrynG3]

Correct. However, it is preferred, where possible, to leave the box blank. But, in your case, it appears a -0- is going to be necessary.

@Heavywater