topic Military Spouse and State Taxes in Tax help for military filers

Military Spouse and State Taxes

kwilkk — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 04:39:58 GMT

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?

Re: Military Spouse and State Taxes

KrisD15 — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 02:43:32 GMT

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.

Re: Military Spouse and State Taxes

DoninGA — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 02:47:04 GMT

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/L9JMT8Mo3_US_en_US?uid=ls5gsex4

Re: Military Spouse and State Taxes

kwilkk — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 03:03:09 GMT

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

Re: Military Spouse and State Taxes

kwilkk — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 03:03:32 GMT

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

Re: Military Spouse and State Taxes

SteamTrain — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 12:32:49 GMT

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.