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What is my state tax ID number?

Published

In most cases, individuals filing their taxes do not need a personal State Tax ID number. However, some tax software, like TurboTax, may ask for a State Tax ID number in specific situations, particularly related to Box 15 on the W-2 form.

If you're being asked for a State Tax ID, here’s what you should know:

  • The Employer’s State ID Number in Box 15 of your W-2 is used by states to track state tax withholding.
  • If Box 15 is blank, but TurboTax or another tax software still requires an entry, you can enter your employer's federal EIN as a placeholder to continue filing.
  • For more details on handling a missing State ID in TurboTax, check out this TurboTax support article.

If you're asking about a State Tax ID for a 1099, Betterment does not provide one since 1099 forms are issued with a federal payer ID rather than a state-specific tax ID.

For additional guidance, we recommend checking with your state tax authority or consulting a tax professional for your specific filing situation.