@ToddL99 wrote:
Yes, you can file as Married, Filing Jointly on all returns (and it is easier). You would allocate the income in the state returns so that your income is not taxed by KY and your wife's income is not taxed by RI.
Answer the Personal info questions carefully, indicating both your and your wife's states of residence are different (if they are).
Your RI return would presumably list you as a resident and your wife as a non-resident (vice versa for KY).
If your wife decides to file MFS for KY, consider who the children live with when claiming them as dependents. You have a lot of flexibility, but it would seem more reasonable that the parent who has physical custody of the children would be most justified in claiming them.
I just wanted to mention that while I was able to file as MFJ for RI, the desktop software would not let me do so for KY. The federal return is MFJ and lists me as an RI resident and my wife as a KY resident.
The software lets me create the MFJ RI return just fine. But when I attempt to begin the KY MFJ return, it states that in Kentucky we must create a separate MFS state return.
