Amending filing status on federal return but not on state return

[taxquestion2016]

Hello everyone, 

My spouse and I lived and worked in different states (NJ and MD) in tax year 2020. We used married filing separate status on our tax returns. We now realize that we could have owed less if we used married filing jointly on the federal return. We want to amend our federal filing status to married filing jointly but do not want to make any changes to the state returns and keep the state filing status as married filing separately. 

If we amend out federal status, will we be forced to change our state status (as I mentioned earlier, we lived and worked in different states MD and NJ). If we are not forced to change the state filing status, should we atleast let the states know that we amended our federal filing status? If yes, how can we let the states know. 

Thank you for your patience with my not very clear questioning!

[ThomasM125]

You can file separate returns in Maryland and New Jersey even if you file joint on the federal return, because you live in different states. You don not need to notify the states of the change, as it will not affect your state tax return.