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Level 2
July 24, 2020
Question

MA State Filling

  • July 24, 2020
  • 3 replies
  • 24 views

HI we have to File for 2018 tax returns. 

 

I lived here for entire year where as my spouse lived here form April to December. can we file MFJ at state level. We are filing MFJ at Federal level. 

 

Thank 

    3 replies

    Alumni - Champ
    July 26, 2020

    Massachusetts has a rule that you cannot file Form 1-NR/PY as MFJ unless both spouses are reporting income for the same residency or non-residency period.  Here is their wording:  

    Note that a joint Form 1-NR/PY is not allowed unless each spouse is reporting income for the same resident or nonresident period. For example, John (a Massachusetts resident) and Jane (a New Hampshire resident) both work in Massachusetts. After they were married in June 2019, John moved to New Hampshire to live with Jane. They cannot file a joint return because their nonresident tax years are different. (Jane lived in New Hampshire during the entire year, but John only lived there for six months.)
    https://www.mass.gov/doc/2019-form-1-nrpy-instructions/download

    **Answers are correct to the best of my ability but do not constitute tax or legal advice.
    Level 2
    July 26, 2020

    why form 1 NY-PY. 

     

    TurboTax has generated form 1. we will be residents of MA as we both have lived at least 183 days. 

    Alumni - Champ
    July 27, 2020

    You are correct.  You file MA Form 1, and since you are both regarded as full-year residents, you can file it as MFJ or MFS, your choice.

    Page 6, https://www.mass.gov/doc/2019-form-1-instructions/download

     

    Note that since your wife is regarded as a full-year resident by Massachusetts statute, her income for the entire year is subject to MA taxation.

    **Answers are correct to the best of my ability but do not constitute tax or legal advice.