In the State Q&A for California, the Adjustments screen titled California – Adjustments – Alimony Paid states:

If you paid alimony, enter the last name of the person to whom you paid alimony. If you are a nonresident alien and did not deduct alimony on your federal return, enter the alimony paid as an addition. Otherwise, make no entry and click Continue.

Answering this question correctly prevents double entry of the amount, and also allows those that did not take the adjustment on the federal return to enter it on their state return.

To navigate to this screen in your return, if necessary:

1. From within your TaxACT return (Online or Desktop) click the State Q&A tab, then click California directly below the blue tabs
2. Click Adjustments to expand the section, then click Adjustments to federal income and adjustments
3. Continue through the interview questions until you reach the screen titled California – Adjustments – Alimony Paid