DaveF1006
Expert Alumni

Get your taxes done using TurboTax

First of all, if you are using Turbo Tax online, you should be able to file a Ca 540 resident return. The information from your federal return flow to your California return seamlessly. ‌If you chose to treat your wife as a resident for tax filing purposes in the federal return, this will populate into your California return.

 

If you sued the software, you may need to go to the forms mode in your software.  Go to the information worksheet and go to the main form and change the residency to a Form 540.  For some reason, Form 540 NR is always selected by default. 

 

You may file MFJ for both federal and state even if your wife does not have income. Aslo you will need to mail in the return because your wife does not have a ITIN or SSN and you are mailing the W7 with the return. This cannot be filed electronically.

Here is the screenshot on where to change the California state residency if you are using Turbo Tax software rather than the online version.

 

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