Understanding Box 19 with two different Local income tax numbers - TaxSlayer help?
So I'm working on my taxes using TaxSlayer and I'm completely stuck on how to handle Box 19 on my W-2. There are two separate local income taxes listed from different localities, but TaxSlayer only seems to give me the option to add another state when I try to enter both. When I attempted that workaround and entered all the info again, my state refund calculation shot up way too high, which can't be right. I've spent hours searching online for guidance specific to entering multiple local taxes in TaxSlayer but found absolutely nothing helpful. Has anyone dealt with this before? I'm getting really anxious as the filing deadline is approaching and I just want to get this right without overpaying or setting myself up for issues later.
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Sergio Neal
This is actually a common issue with TaxSlayer and some other tax software programs. What you're looking at in Box 19 are two different local tax withholdings, and you're right that it can be confusing to enter. Instead of adding another state, look for a section specifically for local taxes. In TaxSlayer, after entering your W-2 information, there should be a section called "Local Taxes" or something similar. When you get there, you should be able to add multiple localities for the same state. You'll need to enter each local tax separately with their corresponding locality names and amounts. If you can't find this section, try going back to the W-2 entry screen and look for a button or link that says "Add Local Tax" or "Multiple Localities." It's not always obvious in the interface.
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Savanna Franklin
•I actually ran into the same problem last year. Do you know if this affects the federal return at all or is it just for state calculations? Also, what happens if you just combine the two local tax amounts together and enter them as one?
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Sergio Neal
•The local taxes generally don't affect your federal return calculation, they only impact your state and local tax returns. Local taxes are typically handled at the state level for tax purposes. Combining the two local tax amounts into one is not recommended. Each locality has its own tax rate and rules, and you need to properly account for each one separately. Some localities might offer credits or have different refund calculations, so combining them could either cost you money or flag your return for review if the localities don't match what your employer reported.
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Juan Moreno
I went through the exact same headache with Box 19 showing two different local tax amounts last year. After hours of frustration, I found this amazing tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that saved me so much stress. I uploaded a picture of my W-2 and it immediately identified both local tax jurisdictions and guided me through exactly how to enter them in TaxSlayer. The tool actually explained that in TaxSlayer, you need to go to the "Local" section within the W-2 entry (not add another state like I was trying to do). There's a button there to add additional localities that's easy to miss. What I love about taxr.ai is that it gives you step-by-step guidance specific to your tax forms and the software you're using.
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Amy Fleming
•Does this actually work with TaxSlayer specifically? I'm having the same issue but with three different localities in Box 19. Would the tool be able to handle that complexity? Their website looks useful but I want to make sure before I try it.
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Alice Pierce
•I'm a bit skeptical about using third-party tools with my tax documents. How secure is this? And do you have to pay for it or is there a free version I could try first to see if it helps with my local tax situation?
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Juan Moreno
•Yes, it works specifically with TaxSlayer and several other tax software programs too. It can definitely handle three localities - actually, I had a friend who had four different local tax jurisdictions (worked in multiple cities as a contractor) and it walked them through the whole process perfectly. The security is really solid - they use bank-level encryption and don't store your documents permanently. They have both free and paid versions, but even the free version should help you identify where in TaxSlayer to enter multiple localities. I was really impressed with how it solved my exact problem when nothing else online was helpful.
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Amy Fleming
Wow, I just tried taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here and it worked perfectly for my three-locality situation! I was about to give up and pay an accountant to handle my return. The tool showed me exactly where to find the "Add another locality" button in TaxSlayer that I kept missing - it's under the local tax section of the W-2 entry, not in a separate area like I thought. It also explained that I needed to enter each locality's name exactly as shown on my W-2 and the corresponding amounts separately. My state refund calculation now looks correct instead of being wildly off like before. Thanks for suggesting this - saved me at least $200 in accountant fees!
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Esteban Tate
I had this exact issue last year and literally spent 6 hours on hold trying to reach TaxSlayer support. After that nightmare, I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and it changed everything. If you're still having trouble after trying the software solutions, Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under 20 minutes who walked me through how to handle multiple localities in Box 19. They have this cool system that holds your place in the IRS phone queue and then calls you when an agent is about to answer. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The IRS agent explained that this Box 19 issue is common and gave me specific guidance for TaxSlayer that fixed my return. Honestly, the peace of mind from talking to an actual IRS representative was worth it.
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Ivanna St. Pierre
•How does this service actually work? I've been on hold with the IRS for literally hours before giving up. Do they somehow have a special line to the IRS or something? Seems too good to be true if they can get through when nobody else can.
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Alice Pierce
•This sounds like a scam honestly. The IRS phone system is notoriously backed up. How could some random service possibly get you through faster? And even if you did get through, would an IRS agent actually help with TaxSlayer-specific issues? They usually just address tax law questions, not software problems.
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Esteban Tate
•They use a system that dials and navigates the IRS phone tree automatically, then holds your place in the queue. When an agent is about to answer, they call you and connect you. It's basically like having someone wait on hold for you. There's no special access - they're just solving the hold time problem. The IRS agent won't help with TaxSlayer specifically, you're right about that. But they can clarify the correct way to report multiple localities for tax purposes, which is the underlying issue. In my case, once I understood what the IRS expected to see on the return, I was able to figure out how to make TaxSlayer do it correctly. Sometimes understanding the tax requirement is half the battle when the software isn't clear.
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Alice Pierce
I take back what I said earlier! I was so frustrated with this Box 19 issue that I decided to try Claimyr as a last resort. I figured it wouldn't work, but I was desperate after spending my entire Saturday trying to figure this out. To my complete shock, I got connected to an IRS rep in about 15 minutes! The agent explained that for Box 19 with multiple localities, I need to report each one separately and make sure the locality codes match exactly what's on my W-2. They couldn't tell me exactly how to do it in TaxSlayer, but once I had the correct tax guidance, I was able to find the right section in TaxSlayer (it was hidden in a submenu I kept missing). My return is finally processed correctly with both local tax jurisdictions properly reported. Saved me from potentially getting a notice from both localities later!
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Elin Robinson
Have you tried using a different tax program? I had similar issues with TaxSlayer and switched to FreeTaxUSA this year. They have a much more straightforward way of entering multiple local taxes from Box 19. Their interface makes it really clear where to add the second locality without trying to add another state.
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Atticus Domingo
•I've been thinking about switching too. Does FreeTaxUSA charge extra for state returns though? And can you import last year's TaxSlayer return or would I need to start from scratch? This Box 19 issue is making me consider other options.
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Elin Robinson
•FreeTaxUSA does charge for state returns, but it's only about $15 compared to the much higher fees some other services charge. The federal filing is completely free for all tax situations. You would need to start from scratch unfortunately. They don't have a direct import from TaxSlayer, but honestly, it might be worth the extra time to enter everything manually if you're dealing with complex local tax situations. Their interface for handling multiple localities in Box 19 is much more intuitive - there's a clear "Add another locality" button right on the W-2 entry screen.
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Beth Ford
I noticed nobody mentioned that sometimes the two numbers in Box 19 could be from the same locality but for different time periods if you moved during the year. In my case, one was for Jan-July and the other was Aug-Dec after our city slightly changed their local tax rate mid-year. Make sure you check if that's your situation before you assume they're from different localities.
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Morita Montoya
•That's a really good point! I worked in the payroll department at my company and we sometimes had to split Box 19 for employees who lived in areas where tax rates changed mid-year. TaxSlayer should let you enter the same locality twice with different amounts if that's your situation.
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