Cadet Turbo Tax Question.

Congrats Dad! :thumb: $400 return is better than paying $2000.

Plug n chug.

Depends on if you prefer interest...

but I agree, it feels nice to get something you weren't planning on.... even if it means the federal government was pocketing more of my money.
 
Information regarding filing taxes for Calif. and CO.

When I input the information for Turbo Tax for the military edition, it asked how many days my son lived in CO and in CA. I filed (for him) both a CO return (with no taxes due) and a CA return, (with no taxes due and a return of the CA taxes he had withheld (only $13). My own accountant said it was correct to file both CO And CA returns, because my son's income was earned in CO, so he is required to file a CO tax return. He used an example of the SUPER BOWL, and said all the athletes had to file a separate tax return for the state where they played in the Super Bowl. If my son had owed taxes in CO (which he did NOT) those taxes would have appeared as a credit on his CA return. Turbo Tax automatically filed both state returns, so it was not difficult, but my accountant's explanation was helpful, so I thought I would pass this along.
 
From my understanding, military files taxes for the state of residence (where you have your drivers license, vote, etc), even if you haven't lived there for years. Therefore, I filed MN taxes, not CO taxes. Our pay isn't really going through any particular state, since we're paid directly from the federal level...

That's why military members based in Alaska, Florida, etc. with low taxes or no income taxes usually change their state of residence. Then they can file for that state for the rest of their active military careers.
 
When I input the information for Turbo Tax for the military edition, it asked how many days my son lived in CO and in CA. I filed (for him) both a CO return (with no taxes due) and a CA return, (with no taxes due and a return of the CA taxes he had withheld (only $13). My own accountant said it was correct to file both CO And CA returns, because my son's income was earned in CO, so he is required to file a CO tax return. He used an example of the SUPER BOWL, and said all the athletes had to file a separate tax return for the state where they played in the Super Bowl. If my son had owed taxes in CO (which he did NOT) those taxes would have appeared as a credit on his CA return. Turbo Tax automatically filed both state returns, so it was not difficult, but my accountant's explanation was helpful, so I thought I would pass this along.

I put that he lived in CO as well as MN on Turbo Tax. Additionally my DS had a total of three W-2's (USAFA, tutoring, and a swim instructor). EACH of the W-2's showed where he paid his state taxes. It was in MN (line 15 on every W-2). CO was not listed on line 15. Turbo tax then asked his employers state tax ID #. So the program knew USAFA paid MN taxes even though the USAFA address is in CO. Hence, Turbo Tax said that his state of residence is MN. I am also guessing this is a military thing. I checked "active duty" for his USAFA status as well when they asked: "what applies to this W-2".

Batmom. Look on line 15 of your DS's W-2. Does it show CA? Actually there is two line 15's for those who split living locations. Mine is empty on the 2nd line 15. Therefore I think falcongirl is correct. Only one state tax needs to be filed (unless USAFA put in CO for line 15 on your W-2).

All that said, I'm not an accountant. When I was doing my own taxes years ago and called the IRS, sometimes I would get two different answers for the same question and only one of them were right. I mention this because accountants are not always right either. To error is human. :)
 
I put that he lived in CO as well as MN on Turbo Tax. Additionally my DS had a total of three W-2's (USAFA, tutoring, and a swim instructor). EACH of the W-2's showed where he paid his state taxes. It was in MN (line 15 on every W-2). CO was not listed on line 15. Turbo tax then asked his employers state tax ID #. So the program knew USAFA paid MN taxes even though the USAFA address is in CO. Hence, Turbo Tax said that his state of residence is MN. I am also guessing this is a military thing. I checked "active duty" for his USAFA status as well.

Batmom. Look on line 15 of your DS's W-2. Does it show CA? Actually there is two line 15's for those you split locations. Mine is empty on the 2nd line 15. Therefore I think falcongirl is correct. Only one state tax needs to be filed (unless USAFA put in CO for line 15 on your W-2).

All that said, I'm not an accountant. When I was doing my own taxes and called the IRS, I would get two different answers for the same question and only one of them were right. I mention this because accountants are not always right.

I don't ever remember having to file in two states as an active duty officer. My entire time in, whether I was in CT, NJ or VA, I filed as a TN resident. My wife was in NM but maintained her RI legal residence until she got out of the PHS. Our tax CPA only did RI, NM doesn't show up.
 
I don't ever remember having to file in two states as an active duty officer. My entire time in, whether I was in CT, NJ or VA, I filed as a TN resident. My wife was in NM but maintained her RI legal residence until she got out of the PHS. Our tax CPA only did RI, NM doesn't show up.

To be clear (in case my post was too confusing), we only filled out one state tax. That was for MN. I agree with you. Unless USAFA listed "CO" on line 15, I predict Batmom got inaccurate advice.
 
Thank you for the correction

Thank you for the research and the correction. I saw my accountant and explained what you had shared, and he confirmed that because he is military, he does get to use his home state, just as it appeared on his W2-line 15. Thanks so much for the corrected information. I appreciate the clarification.
batmom
 
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