mock federal return to file with PY state return

[carolynarose77]

Issue:  PY resident of VA and SC.  Filed MFJ federal.  When I tried to do VA, it said I needed to file MFS (spouse died during year.)  The link it said to click on doesn't work.  With research I figured I needed to create a "mock" MFS federal return to then figure VA state taxes. 

Question:  Do I file the mock MFS federal return with the VA state return?

[AmyC]

No, you do not  file a mock return. You can file a MFJ return for VA. See page 4 of 760PY Instructions for deceased taxpayers. You need to be listed as the primary taxpayer for federal and state.

[carolynarose77]

Spouse was resident of SC while alive.  So he wasn't a VA resident at all.  I included his income on the SC return.

So are you saying I should file VA as MFJ based off of a federal MFJ that includes spouse's income earned while NOT a VA resident?

[AmyC]

When you do a part year return, you select the amount of income earned in that state. None of his income would be allocated to VA since he did not earn money there. When you do the VA part year return, after passing the Income section, the program asks about income for part-year residents. Enter only VA income into this area that has several screens.

You can do a mock federal and file VA as MFS. That is allowed, it just sounds much more difficult.

[carolynarose77]

TT says I have to file VA MFS.  It won't let me continue on the VA state return.  So I'll have to do a mock MFS federal return to get the figures imported.  Is that correct?

[RobertB4444]

@carolynarose77  That is correct.