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New Member
posted Mar 30, 2025 7:00:31 AM

Why is it asking me to set a date to pay my federal taxes when they are being taken out of my refund?

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3 Replies
Expert Alumni
Mar 30, 2025 7:07:04 AM

If TurboTax is asking you to set a date to pay your federal taxes even though you have a state refund (or vice versa), it's because federal taxes cannot be deducted from your state refund or vice versa.

  • The state and federal tax systems are separate, and payments must be handled individually.

Reach back out if you meant something else.

New Member
Mar 30, 2025 7:14:41 AM

If they are handled separately then why did it already deduct the federal taxes from my total refund amount?

 

Level 15
Mar 30, 2025 7:24:17 AM

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, 2025.

 

 

 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-money-order/00/26403 

 

 

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/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/state-taxes/contact-state-department-revenue/L9qVToi02_US_en_US?uid=m6e06um0