TomD8
Level 15

Tax help for military filers

Your wife has the option of filing as a resident of PA, your State of Legal Residence.  Doing so would make her income not taxable by CA.  See Residence of Spouse of Servicemember on page 3 of this California tax publication: 

https://www.ftb.ca.gov/forms/2020/2020-1032-publication.pdf

 

Therefore you and your wife could choose to file a joint return in PA.  Your military income would not be taxed by PA, since you're stationed outside the state.  Nor is it taxable by CA.

**Answers are correct to the best of my ability but do not constitute tax or legal advice.