It sounds like your life is in Ohio and that is where you intend to be. MA is just passing through for school, not as a resident. You are an OH resident with a nonresident MA return. Fill out the MA forms first to calculate tax liability for MA. Then fill out OH and they will give you a credit for MA tax liability.
You can file MFJ for everything. For MA, you were both nonresidents for the same period of time so MFJ is acceptable on all 3 returns.
When you go through the OH program, you may be able to file your local taxes or at least fill out the form. You can se the available forms here.
You get credit for the lower state tax on the lowest taxable amount.
- Each state calculates taxable income differently.
- Each state has its own tax rate/ system.
- You get the lowest of both categories as a tax credit.
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