103. State Income Tax Return - How to File

To start your State Income Tax return you will need:

1. All the information you needed for your Federal Income Tax Return
2. Your Federal Income Tax Return
3. Note: If you earned income in more than one state, you have to file a state tax return for each state. Some students tested Turbo Tax for multiple state filings.
4. The State Form
1. For Vermont, the form can be found online (select Income booklet) or papercopies are in front of the Cashier's Office in the Service Building on the 2nd floor and at the Library. Note: anybody who files a federal return (and some of that money was earned in Vermont, needs to file a Vermont tax return). Here are some instructions from us that might help filing the return manually and here is an example for somebody with no or partial treaty benefits.
2. For California, you can find out Who Must File. The correct form 540 can be found by answering a few easy questions here. You might be able to file online for free using either ReadyReturn or CalFile.
3. For the District of Columbia, see the FAQs for an answer to the question whether you need to file, which form D-40 you need to file and whether it can be done online. 
4. For Virginia, you can find out Who Must File and which form 760 you must file and whether it can be done online.
5. For Maryland, you can find out Who Must File and whether to file form 502 or 503 and whether it can be done online.
6. For Massachusetts, you can find out Who Must File, which tax form 1 to file and whether it can be done online.
7. For New York, you can find out Who Must File, which tax form to file and whether it can be done online.
5. Due dates are the same for State Returns as for the Federal Return
6. Make copy of final State package.
7. Mail the State Tax Return to the applicable address (see instructions of state form) or e-file if available through the software.
8. If you would like to use a software we recommend to go to the IRS website to choose free software to do your state tax return (if your income is under a certain threshold). If you use Turbo Tax or any other of the softwares found on the IRS website make sure that you enter all of your income in the federal section.  If you are a nonresident alien, do NOT use these softwares for your federal tax return, they do not support Form 1040NR which you need to use.  If you received a Form 1098T enter the difference between your aid and tuition, if aid is higher than tuition, under Other Income as Scholarship Income. Also, if you are a nonresident alien, enter your W-2, 1099 information if you have it. If you got a Form 1042S, only enter the amount next to income code 15, exemption code 00 and only if you were taxed (14 or 30%). This amount needs to be entered in other income as scholarship income.
9. Turbo Tax is free for the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, and West Virginia. For the other states it costs $9.95. Other software companies found on the IRS website have similar deals.

NOTE: If you are a non-resident alien and you are using TurboTax, you have to fill out the federal section in order to get the State Return created but DO NOT send the federal return that is being created. You need a Form 1040NR for federal purposes which is not supported by TurboTax. Only send the state returns. Form 1040NR is created by using CINTAX or doing your return by hand per the instructions we have.

Last Updated: July 2, 2009