TaxWorks Blog

State Electronic Filing

1040 state e-filing is available for 42 states. All states allow EROs nationwide to participate. You can e-file one or more state returns for each taxpayer. You can also e-file most state returns with or without the federal return. There are three types of state e-file returns:

Piggyback (PB) – Piggyback state returns are sent to the IRS with the federal return. They cannot be sent after the federal has been accepted; they must be sent initially with the federal. You can only file ONE state return piggyback. Piggyback state e-file clients will appear on the E-File Center, Send Clients screen with the state noted in the State column. The federal e-file return will have US noted in the IRS column. All states except CA, IL, MA, ME, and MN can be sent piggyback.

State Only (SO) – State Only returns are sent to the IRS separate from the federal return. You can e-file MULTIPLE State Only states per client. State Only e-file clients will appear on the E-File Center, Send Clients screen with the state noted in the State column. If a federal e-file return is sent, it will appear on a separate line with US noted in the IRS column. State Only states include: AL, AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, HI, IA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, UT, VA, VT, WI, and WV.

Direct – Direct state e-file returns are sent directly to the state, separate from the federal return. You can e-file MULTIPLE Direct states per client. Direct e-file clients will appear on the E-File Center Send Clients screen with the state noted in the State column. If a federal e-file return is sent, it will appear on a separate line with US noted in the IRS column. CA, IL, MA, ME, and MN can only be sent as Direct states.