Where do I enter my union dues on my NY state return? I do not see them under my itemized deductions.

The deduction for union dues on the New York tax return is an itemized deduction. If your total New York itemized deductions are less than your New York standard deduction, your New York tax return will use the standard deduction and the union dues will not make any difference. If union dues are your only itemized deduction, it is not going to be enough to exceed the standard deduction.

If your New York itemized deductions are more than your New York standard deduction, your New York tax return will use the itemized deductions. You can use itemized deductions on your New York return even if you use the standard deduction on your federal return. But the deduction for union dues requires an entry in the New York return that cannot be made in TurboTax Online. The amount actually does carry over to a New York form, but getting it to be included in the total itemized deductions requires an entry that can only be made in forms mode. TurboTax Online does not have forms mode. Forms mode is only available in the CD/Download TurboTax software that you install on your Windows or Mac computer.

In the CD/Download TurboTax software, go to forms mode and open Form IT-196. The union dues that you entered in the federal return should be on line 21 of on Form IT-196. Open the Itemized Deduction Schedule Addition Adjustments form, or QuickZoom to it from Form IT-196 line 44. Enter the union dues on line 4 (item K) of the Addition Adjustments form. It will flow to Form IT-196 line 44 and will be included in the total itemized deductions on Form IT-196 line 49 and Form IT-201 line 34.

You can switch from TurboTax Online to the CD/Download software without losing what you have already entered. See the following FAQ for instructions.

How do I switch from TurboTax Online to TurboTax CD/Download?