Believe it or not, it worked as I said: in 2022 for our 2021 returns, I e-filed both our individual IRS Returns, without State Returns, as instructed. Then I built the IRS Mock Return, reviewed and finalized the California Joint Return and e-filed it while selecting to NOT e-file the IRS Mock Return. It worked like a charm. That's why I was stunned when I did the same thing this year for our 2022 returns: it all worked, I was able to build the IRS Mock Return and validate that everything was correct in the CA Joint Return - but when it came time to e-file it, your software gave me the message that "it is not possible to e-file a State Return without, or before, e-filing an IRS Return". It simply does NOT work - but it did last year. No I did not print and mail our 2021 CA Joint Return - I would remember it as it was so painful and time-consuming to print it this year. And No, I did not e-file both an IRS Married Return and a CA Joint Return - the IRS would have contacted (or audited) me as to why I was sending 3 IRS Returns for 2 people. Summary, again: TT changed its software! It's that simple, and that frustrating.
