OVERVIEW

State tax forms are the information forms that you fill out when filing your state income tax return. Here are some details.

 

Introduction

In addition to federal income taxes, U.S. citizens are liable for various state taxes as well. While some states do not levy a state income tax, all states assess some form of tax, such as sales or use taxes. And some of these taxes will require you to submit a separate state tax form each year.

 

State income tax forms

Only seven states in the country choose not to impose an income tax. Each of the other states that do will require you to file an annual state income tax return in addition to filing your federal return.

Although a majority of the states calculate your income tax similarly to the IRS, slight differences may exist in your federal and state tax forms. The starting point on most state income tax forms is your federal adjusted gross income, which you calculate using a version of IRS Form 1040, before you apply the various state specific exemptions, deductions and adjustments to calculate your taxable income for state purposes. If you live in one of the states that calculates your income tax using a flat rate, then your tax form will not resemble the federal one.