CA Franchise 1099 Lacking Boxes

[Lonestar]

I have a 1099-G refund from the CA Franchise Tax Board. It's very simple and does not have all the boxes that TT is asking information for. In fact, it only has two boxes numbered, #2 & #3, the taxable year and the amount of the tax refund. Am I just supposed to smartly 'wing it' the best I can to follow the TT questionnaire? Thanks!

[MaryK4]

Look for Refunds Received for State/Local Tax Returns.

[Lonestar]

Thanks but maybe I wasn't clear. When I go into that part of the TT questionnaire, it eventually leads me to a question asking about what is in Box 5. There is no Box 5 on this 1099-G. There is only a Box 2 and 3. Right now it says I won't have to pay taxes on it, but I need to do the rest of my income before proceeding.

[VolvoGirl]

Are you entering it in the right place?  There are several different places to enter a 1099G.  A state refund goes under

 Federal

Wages & Income

 Scroll down to 1099-Misc and  Other Common Income

     You might need click on Show More to expand the section

Then it's the first line for Refunds Received for State/Local Tax Returns - Click Start

     You do not want the next line that says Other 1099G Income

On the first screen check YES - Received a State Refund.

But you might not need to enter it at all.  

Is it for a state tax refund you got in 2024 for your 2023 or prior state return?  Is the amount in box 2?  You may not need to enter it.  Did you take the Standard Deduction on that year federal return?

A State Tax Refund is taxable if you itemized deductions on that prior year's federal return and took a deduction for state income taxes instead of the sale tax.  You got a deduction benefit for it so now you have to include it as income. If you took the standard deduction it is not taxable and you don't need to report it.

[Lonestar]

Thanks again. I have been using the State and Local Tax Refund path.
No, I itemized last year, not standard deduction.

And oh, just discovered that the Box 5 it's talking about is from my 2023 Schedule A! Sorry about that.
I have a bit of work to do on my income. I think it's best to back off of this for the time being so all the other numbers can be used by TT for any decision making. 

[Lonestar]

As for whether it's taxable, right now it says it's not. I have read that it depends on the difference in the tax you paid and the standard or itemized deduction (?) or something weird like that. <shrug> But don't get me to lying. Once all my income is done, I will see what is says.