Stay at home mom

[coeyrachel]

My husband is active duty military and we are filing joint. His home of record is Iowa and we are currently stationed in Georgia. I am unemployed, a stay-at-home mom, no other income. I don't think I qualify for MSRRA because I have never lived in Iowa so I have my residency as Georgia. Does this sound correct? TurboTax is now asking me to file a Georgia state return. I'm guessing it's because I have my residency as Georgia, but neither of us have any income from Georgia. Is it necessary to file a Georgia state return?

[MaryK4]

If you did not have any Georgia income, you do not have to file a Georgia tax return.  NOTE: The Veterans Benefits and Transition Act allows spouses to take the spouse's resident state regardless of when you were married.  Spouses may vote and pay taxes in their active-duty spouse’s state of legal residence, according to the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018.

[TomD8]

The Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 gives the spouses of active duty servicemembers the right to file taxes as a resident of the servicemembers State of Legal Residence (SLR), even if they have no other connection with that state.

Therefore you may enter your State of Residence as Iowa.  You have no tax filing obligation with Georgia.

https://www.militarytimes.com/pay-benefits/2019/01/23/heres-how-some-military-spouses-could-get-pote...