Can I edit state tax form manually

Flyingbeast

Hi, I am filing 540NR California state tax as married filing jointly. I am the primary taxpayer (CA non-resident) but spouse is (CA resident). However, the software won’t let me choose residency status of wife as CA resident when I fill the form 540NR as California is not in the dropdown list. Software assumes both me and my spouse are non resident (but in my case I’m California nonresident but spouse is a resident)

My question is can I manually edit 540NR form - to have below details rectified after paying the filing fees.

Myself: non resident

My state of residency: NC

Spouse: resident

Spouse state of residency: CA

JohnV

Hello Flyingbeast,

You cannot and should not manually edit the the CA Form 540NR. You and your spouse have different state residencies, and so you cannot file all the federal and state tax returns in one account. Instead, you will need 3 accounts to accommodate your and your spouse differing tax residencies.

Account 1. You can file joint federal tax return.

Account 2. You can file separately, only for state tax purposes, and your spouse full year CA resident.

Account 3. You can file separately, only for state tax purposes, and your state residency, where ever you are living. You do not need to file CA nonresident tax return since are not living or working in CA, from what you have written.