Get your taxes done using TurboTax

We recommend you use the TurboTax Desktop software version to do this because you'll only need to pay for one TurboTax product (you can file up to five returns).

If you already started your return in TurboTax Online, we recommend that you transfer your tax file to the Desktop version. You'll save time by entering less information.

Here is how you will do this:

1. Prepare one married filing jointly (MFJ) return to file with the IRS.
2. Prepare a mock married filing separate (MFS) return for each taxpayer. This is for your records only and will be used to generate separate state returns for each person. The mock federal returns are not filed.
3. Then, for the first taxpayer, label and use the first mock MFS federal return to prepare their state MFS return. Use only their income and their half of the deductions from the MFJ federal return.
   • This ensures that TurboTax only transfers the first taxpayer's income to their married filing separate state return.
4. File this MFS state return, not the mock federal return that it pulls the information from.
5. For the second taxpayer (spouse), label and use the second "mock" MFS federal return to prepare their state MFS return. Again, use only their income and their half of the deductions from the MFJ federal return.
6. File the second MFS state return, not the second mock federal return that it pulls the information from.

Name each TurboTax federal return so you will know the correct MFJ federal return to file, and to determine which mock MFS federal and state return is for which person.

Note: State returns prepared using the mock federal returns will require you to print and file your state return by mail (learn more).

For detailed instructions, see the related section in the article below for the taxpayer who needs to file a state return.

Click here for instructions on How to File a Joint Federal Return and Separate State Return.

Remember: Make sure you do not file the mock MFS federal return you created here. We used it to separate the spouse's income and deductions for state tax purposes. 

Keep a copy in case you need to view or amend the spouse's associated state MFS return.