Will state be paid twice?

Forum|Forum|6 months ago
February 7, 2026
2 replies
141 views

I owe $2,200 to the state so I agreed to auto deduct a payment the end of this month as I will be receiving a $3,900 from my federal return. However, after completing filing, it said I would be receiving a federal refund of $1,700 instead of the $3,900, which means someone is deducting the $2,200 from the federal return from the state. If that's true, why did I need to agree to debit the $2,200 from my checking? This is strange. Are the feds trying to keep this money?

xmasbaby0

Level 15

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, 2026.

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://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card

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

WHAT IF I CANNOT PAY MY TAX DUE?

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-payments/pay-taxes/L8aQBCpPO_US_en_US?uid=m9iryksw

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**