What does it mean when it’s asking to apply my overpayment to my 2021 tax return? (2024)

• TurboTax Free Edition Online

‎February 4, 20212:58 PM

It wants to know if you want your refund from tax year 2020 – the return you’re filing this year – to be applied toward any tax you owe for tax year 2021.

Generally, this option is used by people who make estimated tax payments during the year.

@Art Fisherwrote:

How do I apply my 2020 federal tax overpayment to 2021?

To add, change or delete a current year federal tax refund to next year's taxes before you file your tax return -

Click on Federal Taxes (Personal using Home and Business)
Click on Other Tax Situations
Under Additional Tax Payments
On Apply Refund to Next Year, click on the start or update button

Or enter apply federal refund to next year in the Search box located in the upper right of the program screen. Click on Jump to apply federal refund to next year

The amount applied to next years taxes will be shown on Form 1040 Line 36

Please see the TurboTax Help article How do I apply my refund to next year's (2021) taxes? for guidance.

How do I to apply my over payment of my 2020 of tax to my 2021 tax return?

I see no way to do it on the on-line Turbotax.

ThisTurboTax Helphas instructions on how to apply the refund from 2020 to your 2021 tax return.

If you filed with TurboTax last year, this will automatically happen when you transfer your return.

If you didn't transfer your return, follow the instructions in the help article.

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post
**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"

If it didn't transfer over from last year then enter a refund from last year that you applied to this year here. BUT first make sure it's not already there. You don't want to apply it twice.

Federal on left

Deductions and Credits at top

Then scroll way down to Estimates and Other Taxes Paid

Other Income Taxes - Click the Start or Revisit

Next page scroll down to 2020 Refund Applied to 2021

Click Start or Update by the tax you applied

On Line 36 of my 2021 tax return, I elected to apply my overpayment to my 2022 payments (I make prepayments). "Where's my refund" shows that my refund ("overpayment") was sent (and a total amount), but the total amount does not show up on my irs.gov account as applied to my account. Do you know if I should expect this total to show up on my account (all of the prepayments I make show up there).

If anyone can be of help, I am grateful. Thank you.