My wife and I are separated and both filing married but separate. She’s active duty military and her residence is CA but stationed in VA. Why is she paying VA taxes on this years filing?
Yes, your wife should not need to file a Virginia state return if she didn't have any other VA income (side job, etc). Only her State of Legal Residence has the right to tax her military income but California won't tax her military income while stationed outside California.
Please make sure she selected only California as her State of Residence:
If your wife didn't have any other Virginia income then she can delete her VA state return.
Please see What is my military state of residence? and Civilian pay earned by active duty military for additional information.
I believe she put the information in as you explained but it’s saying she owes in VA taxes.