The requirements for State Electronic Filing can be divided into three categories: Stand Alone, Piggyback, or State Only. Although a majority of the states fall into the Piggyback type, some have an additional State Only trait, and then there are the few states that are the Stand Alone type. Our software works with all categories.
Stand Alone (SA) states are the most flexible. They will allow for a taxpayer to Electronically File their State return either with or without the Federal Return. Acceptance or Rejection is not dependant upon Federal Return Information.
Piggyback (PB) states MUST be sent with the Federal Return. If you have already e-filed your Federal Return and wish to file your State Return, you will HAVE to file a paper return. Usually, if the Federal is rejected, the State is also rejected. Correcting the Federal usually corrects the State and each return will need to be resubmitted electronically. If the Federal is accepted and the State is rejected, you cannot resubmit your State Return. You MUST paper file your State Return.
State Only (PB+) states act similar to Piggy Back states in that the State Department of Revenue prefers taxpayers to submit their State return with the Federal Return BUT will accept a "State Only" return. To e-file a State Only state without e-filing the Federal first, you MUST print your Federal Return by clicking on the Filing tab and then clicking on Mail Paper Return. You will need to proceed far enough through these steps until you click on the Print Return button for Federal. You will then need to click on Filing again and this time select to E-File My Return. Once you continue, you will be allowed to select Electronically File State Only.
Please consult the following table to find the category of your state:
SA = Stand Alone
PB = Piggyback
PB+ = State Only
No = Not Offered by State
State | Category | State | Category | State | Category | State | Category |
AL | PB+ | ID | PB+ | MO | PB+ | OK | PB+ |
AR | PB | IL | PB+ | MS | PB+ | OR | PB+ |
AZ | PB+ | IN | PB+ | MT | PB+ | PA | PB+ |
CA | SA | KS | PB+ | NC | PB+ | RI | PB+ |
CO | PB+ | KY | PB+ | ND | PB+ | SC | PB+ |
CT | PB+ | LA | PB+ | NE | PB+ | TN | No |
DC | PB+ | MA | SA | NH | No | UT | PB+ |
DE | PB+ | MD | PB+ | NJ | PB+ | VA | PB+ |
GA | PB+ | ME | PB+ | NM | PB+ | VT | PB+ |
HI | PB+ | MI | PB+ | NY | PB+ | WI | PB+ |
IA | PB+ | MN | PB+ | OH | PB+ | WV | PB+ |