How to file my state tax return only after submitting federal return through Cash App Taxes? Need help with part-year resident state filing!
I'm in a bit of a tax mess and really need some advice. I already filed my federal tax return using Cash App Taxes but didn't do my state return with them because they don't support part-year resident state returns (apparently that's too complicated for them?). So after submitting my federal, I started looking for options to file just my state return. I spent hours searching online but most services I found only let you file both federal and state together, or just federal alone. I couldn't find a clear option for "state only" filing. Since the deadline was approaching yesterday, I totally panicked and ended up paying for TurboTax. I went ahead and tried to file both my federal AND state returns through them (I know, dumb move). Of course, my returns got rejected since I had already submitted my federal through Cash App Taxes. Now I'm completely stuck and don't know what to do about my state return! I've already paid TurboTax and my federal is already processed through Cash App, but my state return is still hanging out there unfiled. How do I fix this mess and just file my state return? Is there a way to tell TurboTax to only submit the state portion? Help!!
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Mateo Hernandez
You're not in as much of a mess as you think! This happens more often than you'd expect, especially with people who move between states during the tax year. What you need to do is go back into TurboTax and look for the option to file "state only." It's not always obvious, but it's definitely there. When you go through the filing process again, you'll need to enter all the same information you did for your federal return (income, deductions, etc.) so TurboTax can calculate your state taxes correctly, but then you'll select the option to ONLY file the state return. If you can't find this option easily, call TurboTax customer support - they can walk you through exactly how to do this. Since you've already paid for the service, they should help you complete just the state portion without any additional fees.
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Aisha Khan
•But wait - doesn't TurboTax require you to file federal first before allowing state filing? I tried doing state-only last year and got stuck in this loop where it kept wanting me to submit federal first. Is there a special button or something I missed?
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Mateo Hernandez
•TurboTax does want you to enter all your federal information first, but that doesn't mean you have to submit it. You need to complete all the federal sections so the software can calculate your state taxes correctly (since state taxes are based on your federal information). But when you get to the filing stage, there should be an option to only file the state return. If you're in the online version, look at the left navigation menu after completing everything. There should be an option specifically for state filing. Alternatively, when you're at the final review screen before submission, you should see separate options for federal and state. You can deselect the federal filing option there.
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Ethan Taylor
After dealing with a similar situation last year (filed federal with FreeTaxUSA but needed state only filing), I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which saved me so much frustration. They have a specific tool for handling part-year resident state returns when you've already filed federal elsewhere. Their system actually helped me identify some deductions I missed that were state-specific, which FreeTaxUSA hadn't caught. The nice thing is their AI reviews everything to make sure your separate federal and state filings don't contradict each other - that's what got my friend flagged for an audit last year.
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Yuki Ito
•How does it work exactly? Do you still have to enter all your info again like with TurboTax, or can it somehow pull data from your already-filed federal return?
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Carmen Lopez
•I'm skeptical that any service can actually "pull" your already filed info from the IRS system. Sounds like you probably still have to enter everything again, which is exactly what OP is trying to avoid, right?
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Ethan Taylor
•You do need to enter your information again, but their interface is specifically designed for state-only filing, so it focuses just on what you need for your state return. It doesn't make you go through the entire federal process again. The system doesn't pull data directly from the IRS, but you can upload a PDF of your completed federal return (which you should have from Cash App Taxes) and it extracts the relevant information automatically. This saves a ton of time compared to manually entering everything again.
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Carmen Lopez
Just wanted to update that I tried taxr.ai after my initial skepticism and was really surprised. I was in this exact situation (filed federal with H&R Block and needed to do a part-year CA state return). I uploaded my federal return PDF and it pulled most of the info automatically. Had to answer some state-specific questions about my residency dates and income earned while in California, but it was way simpler than starting from scratch. The whole thing took maybe 30 minutes instead of the 2+ hours I spent getting nowhere with other services. My state return was accepted within 48 hours and I even got a slightly larger refund than I expected because it found a transit credit I qualified for. Definitely worth checking out if you're stuck with a part-year state filing situation.
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AstroAdventurer
If you're still struggling with this, I was in this EXACT situation last year. After trying everything, I ended up just calling the state tax agency directly. The wait times were ridiculous though - I spent over 2 hours on hold before giving up. Then I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) - they got me connected to a real person at my state's tax department in about 10 minutes instead of hours. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The state tax rep walked me through exactly how to file a standalone state return and even explained that I could just download the forms from the state website, fill them out manually, and mail them in (which is what I ended up doing). No need for expensive software for just a state return!
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Andre Dupont
•So this Claimyr thing actually works? How does it get you through to a human faster than calling directly? Seems like it would be the same phone system either way?
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Zoe Papanikolaou
•Sounds like a scam to me. How could any third party service possibly get you through government phone queues faster? They're not going to have special access to state tax departments.
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AstroAdventurer
•It absolutely works - they use technology that navigates the phone systems and holds your place in line so you don't have to. When they reach a human, they call you and connect you directly. The service doesn't have "special access" - it just automates the waiting process. Think of it like having someone else sit on hold for you, then they call you when they finally reach a person. I was skeptical too until I tried it and got through to my state tax department in minutes instead of hours.
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Zoe Papanikolaou
Came back to say I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself since I've been trying to reach someone at the NYS tax department for weeks about my part-year resident return issue. Called the regular number three times last week and never got through after 45+ minutes each time. Used Claimyr yesterday and got connected to a rep in about 15 minutes. The rep confirmed I could file just my state return by mail using forms from their website, and even told me exactly which forms I needed for my situation. Honestly didn't think it would work, but it saved me hours of frustration. Sometimes you gotta admit when you're wrong!
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Jamal Wilson
Have you tried going directly to your state's tax website? Most states have free filing options directly through their official sites, and they often allow you to file state returns separately. For example, I'm in California and they have CalFile which is specifically for state-only returns. Other states have similar programs. Just Google "[your state] free tax filing" and look for the official .gov site.
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NebulaNova
•I actually tried that first but got confused by the state website (GA). It kept asking for information from my federal return that I wasn't sure how to transfer over properly. Would the state free filing option still work even though I already paid for TurboTax? Do you think it's easier than trying to get TurboTax to just submit the state portion?
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Jamal Wilson
•Yes, the state free filing option would still work regardless of what you paid for elsewhere. For GA specifically, they have the Georgia Tax Center online portal where you can file directly. You'll need your federal return handy because you'll have to enter some key numbers from it, like your adjusted gross income. The state system won't be as user-friendly as TurboTax, but it's designed to handle state-only filing. If you've already paid for TurboTax though, I'd probably try to use that first since you've already entered all your information there.
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Mei Lin
You're overthinking this. Just print your state return from TurboTax and mail it in! When TurboTax rejects your federal+state combo electronically, you can still print the completed state forms and mail them to your state tax agency. I had to do this last year. Just make sure to sign the forms and include any payment if you owe taxes.
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Liam Fitzgerald
•This is actually the simplest solution. I do this every year because I file my federal with one service and state with another. Just print the forms and mail them. As long as the postmark is before the deadline, you're good!
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