This article is for information only and is not tax advice.
This article explains how to answer the question "Did you claim state tax expenses on your 2025 tax return?" in Sprintax Returns.
What are state tax expenses?
State tax expenses are the state and local income taxes that you claimed as an itemized deduction on your 2025 federal tax return.
This amount matters because a state tax refund can be taxable only if you deducted the state tax on an earlier return.
Where do I find the amount?
Open your 2025 federal tax return and find Schedule A. The following table shows the line for each form.
| Federal form you filed for 2025 | Where to find the amount |
|---|---|
| Form 1040-NR | Schedule A (Form 1040-NR), line 1b |
| Form 1040 | Schedule A (Form 1040), line 5a |
How do I answer the question?
The following table shows which answer to select.
| Your situation | Your answer |
|---|---|
| You itemized deductions on your 2025 federal tax return and claimed state or local income taxes | Yes. Use the amount from Schedule A. |
| You did not itemize deductions, or you did not claim state or local income taxes | No |
| You are a student or business apprentice from India and claimed the standard deduction under the tax treaty | No |
| You did not file a 2025 federal tax return | No |
| You filed only Form 8843 for 2025 | No. Form 8843 is not a federal tax return. |
Form 8843 is not a federal tax return. It is an informational statement, and it does not include Schedule A or any itemized deductions.