Need to prepare and file a second return? From downloading the state product to preparing and filing your state returns, here's how. Select a link to go directly to a topic or scroll forward through the document to review the whole process.

• How many state returns can I prepare and file?
• Purchasing and downloading multiple state products
• Preparing multiple state returns
• E-filing a second state return

The bottom line is that you can purchase and file as many state returns as you'd like; however, there are some limitations depending on which TurboTax product you are using and whether you're planning to e-file your state returns.

• If using TurboTax Desktop:
  1. You can purchase and download as many state returns as you'd like.
  2. You can e-file up to three state returns for each federal return.
  3. If you need to file more than three state returns for any one federal return, you need to print and mail the additional returns.

• If using TurboTax Online:
  1. You can purchase up to three state returns for each federal return.
  2. You can e-file up to three state returns for each federal return.
  3. If you require more than three state tax returns for any one federal return, you need to use TurboTax Desktop.

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Before you prepare a second state return, you'll need to purchase the TurboTax product for that state. If using TurboTax Desktop, you'll need to download your state product as well.

Note: If you live and work in separate states and your resident and employment states have a reciprocal agreement, you might not need to file a return for your employment state. (See Filing State Returns When You Live and Work in Separate States for more information.)

1. To purchase a second state product (or even more), follow the detailed steps in Multiple State Tax Returns.
2. If using TurboTax Online, there's no need to download the state product. Once you add the new state product, just sign in and prepare your return. TurboTax Online prompts you for payment when you print or e-file your return.
3. If using TurboTax Desktop, you'll download and install your state product at the time you purchase it. For details, see Download State Desktop.

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Once you have your TurboTax state products, you're ready to prepare your state tax returns. Here's how:

1. If you were a resident in multiple states throughout the year, be sure that when you prepared your federal return that you indicated the following from the Personal Info tab in TurboTax:
   
   
   • From the Choose Your State screen, select the state where you were living on December 31, 2006, and then select No to indicate that you were not a resident there the entire year.
   • If you selected No, then the Enter Information About Your State screen appears prompting you for the date when you established residency in your 12/31/06 state. In addition, you'll specify the previous state that you lived in.
2. If you worked or earned income outside the states where you lived, be sure to indicate the following when filling out the Personal Info tab:
   
   Note: Answer these questions as described here regardless of whether your resident and employment states have reciprocal agreements.
   
   
   • At the Income in Any Other States? screen, select Yes.
   • At the Choose State(s) screen, select the states where you earned income outside the state(s) where you lived. You can select multiple states here, so if you worked in multiple nonresident states, be sure to select them all.
3. When entering Wages and Salary (W-2) information on the Federal Taxes tab, be sure to enter information from all of your W-2s including those from employers outside the state where you live. Check each W-2 correctly and verify that you entered the correct state abbreviation used in the State section on your W-2 (box 15).
4. Continue entering your return following the on-screen instructions. When the State Taxes tab appears, multiple states are listed here depending on where you lived and worked throughout the year. Select the Start State button to begin working on your nonresident states first, and then work on your resident state returns after that.
   
   Note: You must prepare your nonresident state(s) first so that TurboTax knows what nonresident state taxes you paid and can apply tax credits in your resident state for those taxes you paid to nonresident states. (See Why does TurboTax add income from a non-income tax state to my state return? for more information on this.)
5. After entering information for all your nonresident and resident states, you can print and mail your returns or e-file them (see E-filing a second state return below).

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TurboTax desktop software and TurboTax Online allow you to e-file up to three state returns for each federal return. If you require additional state returns, you can print and mail those in excess of three. See Print and Mail Your Return.

1. See the Which states allow e-filing section in our E-file Your State Tax Return document to learn if your state allows e-filing and whether you are required to e-file at the same time or after you e-file your federal return. Some states require that you e-file the federal return before e-filing your state return, while others require your federal return be e-filed and accepted before you can e-file your state return.
2. When you're ready to e-file your state return, select the Print & File tab, and then select E-file.
3. On the Select the Returns You Want to E-file screen, select the checkboxes to indicate which state return(s) you want to e-file. (Remember to follow the state e-filing requirements that you found in Step 1.)
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish e-filing your state return.
5. After you have e-filed your return, check the status of your e-filed return.
   
   
   • For TurboTax desktop users, select File, then Electronic Filing, and then select Check Electronic Filing Status.
   • For TurboTax Online users, select the Print & File tab, and then select Check E-file Status.
6. If your return is accepted, you must sign your return on paper. See Sign your e-filed return. If your return is rejected, see Resolve an E-filing Rejection. If your state return is In Process, see Your state return is in process.

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