Federal MFJ but what about states?

[stormarea]

I was a resident in Hawaii but my wife was a resident in CA in 2018. 

Income distributions are

My income is from CA (3.7k) and HI (more than 40k). 

My wife income is solely from CA (more than 40k). 

Now I understand that I go with MFJ for federal return.

My question is regarding state return (because I have income from two states, it seems complicated):

Do my wife go with California Resident Married Filing Separately?

and do I need to file Hawaii Resident Married Filing Separately and California Nonresident Married Filing Separately? 

Please advise.

[DanielV01 · Accepted solution]

Different states have different rules, which is what can make it seem complicated.  You may file Married Filing Joint for Federal.  California will require you to file a nonresident return as Married Filing Joint.  This way your wife's (and your) California income is included in the California return, but the Hawaii income is excluded.  Another reason why California requires you to file this way is because it is a Community Property State, which becomes complicated when it comes to filing separate returns.

Hawaii, on the other hand, allows you to file as married filing separate on just your income.  It is not a community property state, and so this is probably the most advantageous and easiest way to file the Hawaii return.