To help prevent fraud, it is not possible to e-file your state return if you have not e-filed your federal return with TaxAct. This includes situations where the Federal return is unable to be e-filed per IRS regulations or those situations when it is not necessary to file a federal return. 

If you did not e-file your federal return with us, you can still prepare your state return, but it will have to be paper-filed. While New York requires most taxpayers to file electronically, they do allow an exception when you are unable to do so with the software you are using. You can include a note when mailing your New York return explaining that since your Federal return was not able to be e-filed, that you are paper-filing your New York return also.

To print a paper copy of your return which can then be mailed:

1. From within your TaxAct return (Online or Desktop), click Filing. On smaller devices, click in the upper left-hand corner, then click Filing.
2. Click Mail Paper Return, continue to the screen titled Paper Filing Step - Print Options, then click which return(s) you wish to print to mail.
3. As you proceed through the screens, you may see an Alert titled Warning: New York State - E-Filing Requirement. As explained earlier, you can ignore the Alert in this situation and include a note with your return.
4. At the end of the section, you will be prompted to print the New York return. On the following screen, the filing instructions will include the mailing address. If you are also printing the Federal return, those prompts will be on separate screens.

Note. Before mailing the return(s), be sure to read the instructions. They will include important information such as where to file, what to attach to the return (i.e. W-2s, 1099s, etc.), refund or balance due, information about estimated tax payments, etc.