Is State Income Tax payments deductiable from my federal income tax?


Question:
I am new to filing taxes and I live in California.Can I deduct the total amount I have paid in state income tax from the total amount I owe in federal income tax on my tax return?

I am filing as a single person.

Answers:
You can't deduct the total paid in state income tax from what you owe in federal income taxe, but what you can do is you can deduct your state income tax payments on Schedule A itemized deductions on state or sales taxes line 5. You have the choice of taking either. But you have to itemize for the state income taxes to do you any good, and if you itemize and deduct state income taxes, then if you get a refund it's taxable to you in the next year.
yes
You do not deduct it from your Federal Income Tax. You deduct it from your income as an itemized deduction if you have enough to itemize. Other itemized deductions include property taxes, mortgage interest and charitible contributions. (see Schedule A)

There are exceptions but, generally speaking, if you don't have a mortgage, you may not have enough to itemize.
No, you can't deduct your state taxes from the amount you owe for federal taxes. But what you can do is deduct your state taxes, if you itemize, from your income before you calculate your federal taxes. State taxes are an itemized deduction.

I think Steve P just read the first line of your question and assumed what you were asking, rather than reading your whole question.
You can deduct it through your itemized deductions. If you don't have enough to itemize, then no.

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