MFJ while living in different states
My wife and I live in different states. I live in California, and my wife is in the Air force. In 2024, she received a PCS order to move to Nevada, and she has lived in Nevada for all of 2025 and only received income from the Air force in Nevada. We've determined that I need to file a California state return, but my wife does not owe California any state income taxes. We're trying to file MFJ for federal, and then only submit a California return for myself.
I saw a few posts on this forum explaining how to go about filing this way
and I understand I will need two accounts. I just wanted to confirm the steps I'm taking make sense, and also figure out how to navigate the checkout process to purchase the state return without filing the federal return on the second account.
Account #1:
Fill out everything for MFJ - this MFJ federal return will be e-filed, but no state return should be submitted from this account. When I get to the "Summary" tab for federal, and the next question is "Do you need to add a state tax return", I don't any state tax return and continue to the checkout, and e-file this MFJ return.
Account #2:
Fill out the federal portion as MFS, enter all the information for myself only. When I get to the state return portion, I create a California state tax return with the relevant information. Then when I checkout, I purchase the state tax return, and choose to "Mail your federal and state tax return". This federal tax return can be thrown away - if I'm asked to mail in a federal tax return I should mail a copy of the MFJ return from account #1. Then I mail in the California state return from Account #2
Please let me know if this all looks correct, thanks!
Best Answer
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Hello arquill,
Yes, that all looks to be correct. California does allow you to file separately even if you filed a joint federal return if your spouse is an active member of the US military. (Each state has different rules, so it is important to check what your state rules are in situations like these).
The software will provide instructions on what you need to include with your mailed in CA tax return and where to mail it.0
