Hi there,

I need to file my 2001 tax return for the State of Arizona. Yes, I know I'm a little late. How do I go about finding out my withholding for State Taxes for that year?

I asked for and received a payer transcript so I could file my Federal Taxes, but the transcript did not list out the State Withholding.

I searched around the Internet and haven't come up with anything useful for the State level.

Thanks in advance,
Alan

Alan:

Ask Arizona if they will send you a copy of their tax script. That should have the state withholding amount.

If that is not feasible, file the return and make an estimate as to how much was withheld. You can probably make an educated guess if you use the withholding tables. If you are conservative, the state will make the necessary correction. If you have a refund coming (which you will NOT because of the 3-year statute of limitation on refund), it really does not mater.

>Ask Arizona if they will send you a copy of their tax script. That should have the state
>withholding amount.

I should have mentioned this. When I asked for their version of a payer transcript they couldn't help me with that one. They did give me my 2000 withholdings and based on pay I could come up with a reasonably sane ballpark figure, but what would they compare it to?
They couldn't answer that question.

I claimed zero for 2001 so my federal refund, if I could get it, would have been nice. So I'll assume that I'm way over on my State Withholdings as well, which I guess I'll never see as well. So, should I bother at all then, even though my withholdings would be just a guess, or should I just forget about it.

Thanks,
Alan

Alan:

File, even though you will not get a refund, because your failure to file may hold up future tax refunds. Use an estimate as to what you think was withheld and allow the state of Arizona and the IRS to adjust it based on their records.

> because your failure to file may hold up future tax refunds.

Ahh, you said the magic words. :-)

Ok, I guess I'll have to use a form 4852 to sub for a real w-2. In the future, I guess I can always file an amended return if I should happen to come up with the real one.

Thanks for the advice,
Alan

Glad to help!