MA return is adding wifes income to mine even though we're filing separately

[glake]

I live in RI and work in solely in  MA.  My wife lives with me in RI and works solely in RI.  We just got married this year. 

We decided to file separately. 

My federal return seems fine. 

When I start a non-resident MA return (first before RI) it asks about my spouse, her income, and AGI (says it's for separate filers verification?).  As I progress it says my total income (which includes my wife's income) exceeds my income from my 1040 and the state of MA requires an explanation of the difference.

Why is it adding my wife's income when we filed separately?  I don't think it should be doing that

Have a hit a bug?

[ErnieS0 · Accepted solution]

Massachusetts does show both incomes on the part-year/nonresident form, but you are only being taxed on your income,.

If your only income is a job in MA, your income is the amount reported on line 12 (Total 5% Income). Follow that line down and you will see that's the income that's being taxed on line 25 after your personal exemption on line 22.