Colorado FAMLI Employee Contributions - Where to Enter on Website So They Get Included in Itemized Deductions
Where do I enter CO FAMLI contributions to make sure they show up in itemized deductions properly?
I am asking this question based on the assumption that contributions to the FAMLI plan are deductible as "state income taxes". I've seen conflicting opinions on that, but I am pretty sure they are (see sources at the bottom) and don't want that to be the main discussion unless someone got a hard "NO" from the IRS or a Tax Pro about deducting it.
W2s are no help. My current employer failed to include them on my W2 so I am trying to get an updated form (pay stub has it as "CO PFML"). My last employer put them in Box 14 with "CO PFML", but HR Block has no specific option for that.
What Works:
- W2 Box 14, "FLI"
- Amount in "Taxes Paid" under "Type of Deduction" automatically increases to sum of withheld state income tax + Box 14 amount, which is what I want/expect
- HR Block AI said that's not accurate; PFML is better because CO plan is more than a family leave plan, includes medical. Agent also said PFML, which doesn't work.
- Box 14, Selecting California and New York options (obviously incorrect but testing how the system works - the CO plan is supposed to be treated the same, so it seems HRB has failed to implement it)
- Adding under deductions "Estimated state taxes, payments with a state return or extension, or other state and local income taxes", but there is not an accurate description option (see photos for options).
- "Any other prior year taxes paid in 2025" seems the best, except it's not "prior year")
- HR Bock AI said "Estimated Tax" was better when I gave it a choice between that and "Prior year taxes", but that doesn't mean this is the right spot, and I don't like that option.
What Doesn't Work (unless you also add it as a deduction somewhere)
- Box 14, PFML
- Quick google search suggest this might be for actual benefits, not contributions, but that might be for a different website?
- HR Block chat agent told me to use this. First they said it's deductible, then they said "In many cases, entering PFML wont change your refund, and that's normal." What? I get different responses from different agents from "Consult in office" to "What is PFML", so I don't really trust it.
- HR Block AI first said "PFML" but then I said that doesn't properly add it to "Taxes Paid" under deductions, so it said to put it under "State and Local Income and Sales Taxes" (which isn't the actual title for the income tax entry, but oh well, see above).
- Box 14, Other
Is there a way to manually modify Schedule A and the "State and Local Tax Attachment" sheet (system generated, seen in prior years) before submitting?
Sources that support deductibility for the state sponsored plan contributions:
- https://rsmus.com/insights/tax-alerts/2025/new-irs-guidance-on-tax-treatment-of-state-paid-leave-programs.html
- https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rr-25-04.pdf
- (Above links pulled from https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/business-taxes/discussion/does-anyone-know-what-category-the-co-famli-colorado-family-leave-withholdings-fall-under-reported/00/3127220, which has a lot of back and forth on general deductibility, but I agree with those who say it is deductible).
Posted Mar 14, 2026, 12:19 AM UTC