Sam Brotman, JD, LLM, MBA October 22, 2021 19 min read

Why Do I Owe State Taxes This year? (& Why so Much?) 2022 Guide

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Sam Brotman, JD, LLM, MBA

Owner and Director of Legal
Brotman Law

 

If you haven’t had to pay any state taxes for the past few years but now face a liability, you might be wondering, why do I owe state taxes this year? It’s a pretty common question that many taxpayers struggle to find the answer to.

You may not even be aware that you owe state taxes this year. It all depends on how your income has changed over the previous year and whether you still have any credits or deductions available to you that were used previously to reduce your taxes.

How much do I owe in state taxes?

There are 43 states in the US that collect state income taxes and California is one of them. It has the highest state income tax rate in the country at 13.3%. California also ranks fourth for combined income and sales tax rates at 11% with only New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut ahead of it.

California requires both residents and nonresidents that receive income from a California source to pay taxes. The state does offer tax deductions and credits that enable taxpayers to reduce their liabilities.

California has three major tax agencies that are responsible for causing confusion amongst taxpayers. The state income tax and corporation tax are administered by the Franchise Tax Board. It runs several state programs in addition to handling collections, penalties, and dispute resolution.

Sales and use tax are administered by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. Businesses have to register with this department to obtain permits and licenses, particularly if they're in the fuel, alcohol, and tobacco trade. Lastly, the Employment Development Department administers payroll taxes, unemployment, disability, and other state programs. 

The Franchise Tax Board provides a calculator that you can use to figure out your tax liabilities by entering your income and filing status. You can compare the information with your filings from last year to get a full picture of how your tax situation has changed.

Why do I owe state taxes this year?

The answer to the question of why do I owe the state taxes isn't quite simple. There can be a multitude of reasons why you might owe state income taxes this tax year even if you didn't in the past. Firstly, it's important to understand that your state tax bracket can differ from the federal tax bracket. If your income changed, you could be required to pay state taxes now. A change in income may also limit your ability to claim certain tax credits, ultimately causing you to lose state tax benefits. 

Also, consider what you withheld from your income during the year. Withholding less than what you were required to will result in a state tax bill. If you received unemployment benefits, this will also be counted on your individual income taxes due.

One of the major reasons behind this is that the state income tax codes can and do differ from the federal law that the Internal Revenue Service follows. Each of the 43 different states that tax income have their own set of tax laws.

While there is no federal sales tax in the United States, each of the states is free to charge sales and use tax. It's pertinent to note that each state has its own department of revenue and may have different tax refund procedures. Before you file in any state, it's always good to understand its specific tax laws and even better if you consult a tax professional who specializes in that state.

It’s also important to keep detailed and accurate records of any material change to your taxable income or tax status as well as any exemptions you’re claiming. It will make things easier down the line when you're due to file your income tax return at the end of the year. Accurate records will also help you develop a strong case should you decide to dispute your state taxes.

Why do I owe so much in taxes for 2022

The amount you owe in state income tax is based on a variety of factors. Starting a side hustle or changing jobs, underpaying estimated quarterly taxes if you're self-employed, reporting gambling winnings, getting married or divorced, or losing a child tax credit are just some of the many reasons why you might owe state taxes this year. 

Other factors that could contribute to why you owe so much in taxes for 2022 may include:

  • Social Security, if this was your first year receiving benefits

  • Increase in taxable income because you didn't contribute to an individual retirement account

  • Change in filing status, changes in education, or tuition deduction

  • Increase in home or property tax

  • One-off capital gains

  • Change in military service

You must also consider the possibility that you could owe taxes in more than one state. This could also be one of the reasons why you owe so much in taxes. If you have done work in a state where you don't normally reside and tax was withheld from the income, you may owe or be due a refund from that state.

If the taxes from your income were not withheld in that state, you will have received a Form 1099 listing your earnings as you're not required to file in that state. However, the income listed on your Form 1099 is liable to taxation by your state of operation or residence.

Here's a simple example. Say you are based in California and you work for a company in New York either by traveling there or working remotely from your home state. If you worked in or earned income from more than one state, you will need to file a return to make a tax payment, even if you don’t live in that state.

Why do I always owe state taxes every year?

As highlighted above, state taxes are imposed for many different reasons. If you have earnings and conducted business within the state, then you will be required to pay state taxes.

These taxes are a crucial financial lifeline for the state. The money is generally used to fund social services like welfare, public housing, and Medicaid in addition to law enforcement, education, and hospitals.

It’s not just individuals that owe state taxes every year. Businesses aren’t exempt and generally have to pay a lot more in taxes on an ongoing basis. Businesses operating in California are required to pay sales and use tax. They can levy this at the point of purchase and then pass it along to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.

This tax is required to be charged on all cash and credit card sales, property exchanges, installment sales, layaway sales, and trade-ins. Businesses may also owe excise tax, depending on what they sell. They are required to withhold income tax from employees' compensation in addition to paying employment taxes such as Medicare and Social Security as well as worker's compensation.

What does state tax due mean?

The state tax due means that you owe taxes to the state because you didn't withhold enough. The taxes that were withheld from your wages or paid in by you were not enough to fulfill the entire tax liability for the tax year that you owe to the state. You are now required to send the state an additional payment.

Why do I have to pay state taxes anyway?

By law, the state requires people who meet the threshold to pay their due share. The state relies on these tax revenues to fund services and welfare programs.

At the very least, you will charged for fines and penalties if you don't pay, pay late or underpay an estimated tax installation. The California Franchise Tax Board will penalize you if you don't pay the total amount due shown on your income tax return by the due date. 

They charge 5 percent of the unpaid tax as the penalty in addition to 0.5 percent of the unpaid tax for each month or part of the month the liability remains unpaid. The maximum penalty is 25 percent of the unpaid tax.

If you make it a habit to not pay state taxes every year or pay less than what you owe, you may even be looking at tax fraud jail time.

Why do I owe state taxes but not federal?

Many taxpayers ask, how come I owe state tax but not federal? There's a fundamental difference between federal and state income taxes. The former are collected by the federal government through the IRS and these taxes are then used to fund the various functions that come under the federal government. State income taxes are collected by individual states where the taxpayer may be living or have a business nexus in. 

The withholdings and deductions made for your IRS federal tax liabilities may be more than enough to cover them all. In that case, you would be eligible for a federal tax refund. Even with your federal taxes paid, you still might meet the threshold at which your state starts charging tax. So even if you don’t owe federal taxes to the IRS, you may still owe the state at the end of the year.

Why do I owe federal taxes but get a state refund?

If you paid more taxes to the state government than your actual tax liability, you will be eligible to receive a state tax refund. Federal taxes are levied annually by the IRS on your total income so even if you received a refund for paying more than what you were required by the state, you may still owe federal taxes on your total income. 

How much do I make after taxes in California?

The income tax rates in California range from 1% to 12.3% with a 1% surcharge on taxable incomes of $1 million or more. The state has a progressive marginal tax rate which means that the higher your income the higher the rate you will pay.

To calculate your paycheck after taxes in California, take a look at the various deductions that will be made in addition to the state income tax to figure out your actual tax situation. This includes FICA and State Insurance Taxes that cover Social Security, Medicare, State Disability Insurance Tax, etc.

There’s an abundance of California paycheck calculators online that can instantly let you know how much you make after taxes. 

Having difficulty paying state taxes this year?

Unable to pay your taxes in full this year? Help is available. At Brotman Law, we strive to achieve favorable outcomes for our clients. Your options may include a payment plan that lets you pay taxes due over a period of time. If you’re facing penalties or would like to dispute an assessment on your tax returns, contact us today and we’ll get it sorted for you. Tax time doesn’t need to be stressful!

Key takeaways on owing state taxes

As long as you hit that threshold at which the state levies taxes, there’s little you can do except pay what’s due. Concealing income or willfully defaulting on these liabilities is a recipe for disaster. The tax authorities have a lot of data at their disposal to figure out if they are being taken for a ride. 

It’s understandable why a lot of people are confused about owing state tax. They feel that their tax liabilities are all taken care of once they have paid federal income taxes and business taxes. Taxation is a complex field that can be difficult to understand because of all the different factors in play. 

As responsible citizens, it remains our responsibility to ensure that we comply with all of our tax liabilities, whether federal or state. As long as you keep doing that, you’ll have little reason to be concerned about the tax authorities making your life difficult.

FAQs

How do you know if you owe state taxes?

You will receive a letter from the tax authority if you owe state taxes. If you use one of the many tax filing software available online, they will be able to compute the amount of taxes you owe after being provided with your income information.

Why is my state refund so high?

A state refund can be high as a result of too much withholding. It means that more tax was withheld all year from your paychecks than what was necessary to cover what you owe. The refund is simply the government giving you your own money back.

Why is my state tax higher than federal?

Since state tax and federal tax are completely separate calculations, it's normal for state tax to be more than the federal tax. One has nothing to do with the other, and the amount of taxes owed can vary. Many different factors affect the amount of liability you could face.

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Last updated: March 24, 2024

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Sam Brotman, JD, LLM, MBA

Owner and Director of Legal
Brotman Law

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