If we file our state returns separately we actually end up owing tax, whereas filing jointly we are able to get a refund. Two main concerns:
1) We don't want the student loan lender (FedGov) to count our income together but not sure this matters for state.
2) It's beneficial for us to itemize the fed returns instead of taking the standard deduction and we have to do either one or the other - it doesn't allow for one of us to itemize and the other to not.
