For spouses living in different states, question on filing joint for federal return, and separate for state returns.

[Heiminator]

My wife and I live in different states, and I found the information on Intuit saying that you should create a married filing jointly return to file with the federal government, and then state returns from a separate "mock" return as married filing separately.  Completely understand this part.  However, the state return requires a copy of the federal return to be included.  Should I include the married filing jointly return that I filed with the feds, or should I include the married filing separately "mock" return I created to file the state return?  If I use the joint return, obviously many of the numbers wouldn't match with what is on the state return.  Is this a problem?

[Vanessa]

Yes, if your state is requiring you to send a copy of the federal return, you need to send a copy of the one that was actually filed. It will not matter that the numbers don't match.  They will see that you are married filing jointly on one return and separate on the other return.