How to Add a State Return in TurboTax

Your federal return and your state return are separate filings, but TurboTax ties them together for you. It uses the information from your federal return to fill in much of your state return automatically, so you answer far fewer questions the second time around.

This is an independent guide and not affiliated with Intuit. Confirm state fees on the official site, since they do change.

Some desktop editions include one state product, while others charge separately. And even when a state download is included, e-filing the state return often comes with an additional fee. Check what your edition covers so the cost doesn't catch you by surprise at the end.

To add a state, look for the state option within the program, often on a State Taxes tab or prompt. TurboTax downloads the state module for you. You'll need an internet connection for this, and keep in mind that state forms are sometimes finalized a bit later in the season than federal forms.

Once the state product is installed, work through its interview. A lot of it is already filled in from your federal data. Answer the state-specific questions, like residency details and state-only credits or deductions, and review the result before moving on.

If you lived or worked in more than one state, you may need to file in each. TurboTax lets you add more than one state product. The order can matter, especially when you have a part-year or nonresident situation, so follow the program's prompts and double-check how income gets allocated between states.

When your state return is done, you can e-file it or print and mail it. E-filing is faster but may cost an extra fee per state. If you'd rather skip that fee, printing and mailing the state return is a perfectly valid alternative, just keep an eye on the deadline.