Military Spouse and State Taxes

[kwilkk]

So I see a lot of people asking the same question but I have no clarity on how to file. I am a military spouse of an active duty servicemember, both of our home of records is AL. We are stationed in CA on orders. I have made W2 income in CA, but my taxes were not withheld, so I know I owe. What questions do I answer on our joint return in order to pay AL taxes for the CA income I have earned?

[KrisD15]

After you do the Federal return, file a non-resident CA return if CA tax was withheld (to get the tax refunded) 

Next do the FULL -YEAR RESIDENT AL return and claim all your income. 

In the "Personal Info" section you should have selected AL as your State of Legal Residence. 

[DoninGA]

You only report your California income on your Alabama state tax return.  You should also be filing as Married Filing Jointly on the AL return.  You do not file a California return if no CA taxes were withheld on the W-2.

See this TurboTax support FAQ for military spouses - https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/state-taxes/military-spouses-state-taxes...

[kwilkk]

So am I supposed to mark that I lived in another state or made income in another state?

[kwilkk]

So am I supposed to mark that I lived in another state or made income in another state?

[SteamTrain]

No, do not indicate you lived in another state or earned income in another state

.....since you are claiming AL as resident state, all that CA income is treated As-IF it was earned in Alabama.