Efile State Taxes for Domestic Partnership

[jemmaniso]

Hello. My boyfriend and I are in a domestic partnership, which means we need to file out federal taxes separately and then do a joint federal to influence our state which we file. The joint federal does not get filed. I filed our separate federal taxes and am now trying to submit our joint state via efile, however the system will not let me file. I am receiving an error saying that I cannot efile my state taxes because I must file my state with or after my federal has been filed. However, I have already filed my federal - the separate returns - and I cannot submit the joint federal. Is there a way to efile the state via Turbo Tax? Is there a way I can show the system that I have efiled my federal? 

[hbl3973]

One option is to ask TurboTax to file by mail for that joint federal so that it just creates a PDF for you to print and never mail.  Then you can proceed to state efiling.  But if TurboTax asking you to pay money to file federal that way, this isn't going to be the answer.

[nwa123]

Does this work for the desktop version? I tried figuring out this option and I can't seem to do one separately from the other. 

[DawnC]

Yes, it works in the desktop.  You can file the federal - but don't e-file it, choose to file it by mail.  But then don't mail it.   

How do I prepare my return if I'm in a registered domestic partnership (RDP) or civil union (CU)?    @nwa123

[nwa123]

Thank you Dawn. I tried numerous times, but after printing my federal to "mail" there is no option to try to e-file state. It simply goes back to asking if I want to print my return for mailing in again. What am I missing?

[nwa123]

Can you elaborate on how to do this? I've followed the steps in turbo tax in the desktop version and there is no option to efile state after I select filing by mail for federal. @hbl3973 @DawnC Thank you!!

[DawnC]

You won't be able to file the state return electronically unless you file the federal electronically.   Unfortunately, the instructions only allow one to prepare and paper file a joint state return when the federal return is filed with a Single or Head of Household status.    Sorry for the confusion.  @nwa123

[hbl3973]

Sigh ... but thank you Dawn for clarifying this issue.  Personally, I have always paper filed my own returns via certified mail to ensure a timely postmark and tracking.  (It is quite unfortunate that tracking has been quite unreliable in the last few years since DeJoy undercut delivery standards.)