so confused! state taxes and do i need help

[Zoe Girl]

okay i am super confused now. i have a bill for state taxes, i get large federal returns and alway owe state. it is my own fault to have this issue because i wait for the federal return, have a large bill like car repair and then don't get state filed and paid. i know i could do a payment plan, like i said my fault and i am paying it off. the last time i checked (this week) i owed $88, i have one year to file that is under $50. so i can finish it all this week !!

i just got a 2010 refund check for over $400. what?? ihad some estimates from tax people but i ended up doing my taxes myself, now i wonder if i should pay something to make sure every year is clean and paid and refunded. federal is fine, all filed and paid or refunded and up to date. but i am nervous to cash this check

[bae]

I am a big fan of using TurboTax or similar products.

[Zoe Girl]

taxact is good too, and using the same one for several years in a row means i get better results. i am just not sure about where the rerun came from. the last time i called state taxes they answered the phone pretty quickly.

[iris lilies]

Zoe, i hope this state refund is yours to keep. That plus a couple more will replenish your emergency fund.

[Zoe Girl]

Thank you IL, This would be such a boost! I got my deposit back on my rental, in full. I don't even have child support for this month and I only have 2-3 bills to pay with that.

I decided to call the state tax office soon and just ask, it has the year on it. What I think happened was that they set my taxes at the same amount as a previous year and then I filed and it was lower. But I am not sure why they didn't put that towards my current balance. In any case it will all be cleared within a month!