topic TurboTax says I have to paper file spouse's CA state return in State tax filing

TurboTax says I have to paper file spouse's CA state return

taxnoob321 — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 18:19:40 GMT

First time doing married filing separately, and we are in CA so we had to do community property adjustments, including for tax withholding. I was prompted by TT that when you do this withholding adjustment, you cannot e-file federal returns.

Instead, it looks like I can e-file my federal and state returns, but my wife can only e-file her federal return, but not her state return. I would expect it to be consistent for both of us. What did I do wrong?

Thank you!

Re: TurboTax says I have to paper file spouse's CA state return

Vanessa A — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 18:32:14 GMT

If you split everything and did not enter anything different on her return than your return, then I would suggest going back to double check your entries. Maybe print them both out and go line by line to see what is different. If they are both the same, then you would both be able to e-file both state and federal. This likely means there is something just different enough that it is sending up that message on her return.

Re: TurboTax says I have to paper file spouse's CA state return

taxnoob321 — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 22:47:46 GMT

Thank you for your reply.

It looks like the only difference is in the section for community property tax withholding adjustments. No matter what I do in Easy Step, for me there is just a total number at the bottom of the screenshot, but for her there is a subtotal in 13d as well. I think I need to get rid of that subtotal, but how?

Re: TurboTax says I have to paper file spouse's CA state return

Vanessa A — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:03:52 GMT

It appears that this may have something to do with TurboTax pre-emptively expecting a rejection error from the state of CA. Since your withholding is not attached to your wife's SSN and is now more than was actually reported on her W-2, it can trigger a manual review requirement. So when the state matches what they received on the person who is getting the "extra withholdings" from their spouse, it is saying it is too much so it needs reviewed. Having less is not as much of a flag as having more than was reported.

So since she is the one receiving the extra withholding, it does look like you will need to print and mail her state return.

Re: TurboTax says I have to paper file spouse's CA state return

taxnoob321 — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 06:18:51 GMT

Thank you for confirming, Vanessa.