topic In North carolina. Can my wife and I file federal taxes together but state separately? I am military and don't have state taxes for my home of record in Tax help for military filers

In North carolina. Can my wife and I file federal taxes together but state separately? I am military and don't have state taxes for my home of record

zyl03413 — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 04:35:36 GMT

Re: In North carolina. Can my wife and I file federal taxes together but state separately? I am military and don't have state taxes for my home of record

DoninGA — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 23:28:27 GMT

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=ls6pfdcb

Re: In North carolina. Can my wife and I file federal taxes together but state separately? I am military and don't have state taxes for my home of record

zyl03413 — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 00:54:11 GMT

Doesn't quite answer the question. She has always lived in NC, we live here now, she works here, etc. Just need to know if she dan do her state taxes alone

Re: In North carolina. Can my wife and I file federal taxes together but state separately? I am military and don't have state taxes for my home of record

SteamTrain — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 11:59:29 GMT

Well...she "can". NC allows it for married couples who are residents of different states.

1) To do so, y'all would have to create a separate tax file (If using the "Online" software, that means an entirely new account). In that new file, she would to prepare the Federal section as MFS, and then do the NC-MFS section....then pay for the software if needed....The MFS Federal part MUST NOT be filed....then print and MAIL-IN the NC-MFS tax return. (you can't e-file NC MFS since the Federal part is not e-filed).

Your Federal tax file in the other account could then be e-filed MFJ without any state attached. (I'd recommend doing that first...unless you do my recommended #2, below)

or...what I recommend instead..

2) NC also allows you to file MFJ...but with different states of residence, the NC-MFJ Q&A would allow you to indicate what sub-part of total Federal income was NC-taxable income. This takes out the income assigned to the non-NC resident. IT also allows you to prepare just one tax file and to e-file both the Federal and NC state parts. You do need to make sure that you indicate the proper/different states of residence for each of you when you enter your names in the My Info section. Example: You might be HOR/Resident state as TX, and she is NC. That is needed such that the proper Q&A shows up in the NC state section, so you can indicate just her portion of yearly income as being NC-taxable.

Re: In North carolina. Can my wife and I file federal taxes together but state separately? I am military and don't have state taxes for my home of record

TomD8 — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 15:14:47 GMT

If you are active duty military and you are in NC on PCS orders, then your wife may choose to file as a resident of your SLR (State of Legal Residence). This could make her income not subject to NC income tax. See this NC tax reference for details:

Important Tax Information Regarding Spouses of United States Military Servicemembers | NCDOR