How do I file when spouse works at MA company remotely in NH?

[keegs13]

Hello,

We filed our federal taxes as 'Married Filing Jointly', and already received the 2023 refund. No issues. My income is earned 100% in NH from an NH company and has nothing to do with MA. My wife goes into MA for work a couple of times a month, so we need to apportion that income. How do I do this without involving my NH income at all? I bought a MA state filing on my account, and it keeps wanting to include my NH income since we are filing together. It got to the point where it said I was working out of state 365 days a year, and I'd need to print that out to file (not e-file eligible) since it's such an uncommon situation.

I see prior posts about creating another profile and do a 'mock' (not sure how this is possible) federal return but selecting married filing jointly. I already paid for the state on my profile, so I'd hope it's possible to handle in a single account...

Thanks!

[ThomasM125]

The best way to proceed would be to file your spouse separately in Massachusetts. To do this, you would need to prepare a separate federal return for her as a single filer. After you complete her state return for Massachusetts, you can file it. Then, go back to the federal return and switch the filing status to married-joint, enter your information and complete the federal and New Hamshire returns and file them.

@keegs13  {edited 2/10/23 @6:01 AM PST}

[keegs13]

Thank you for the response. We don’t need to file a NH return. There’s no state income here, and I’m not sure the situations where people still file. I know we’re not eligible however.

Are you suggesting to make a separate TurboTax account for my wife? According to a forum I read, it’s not possible to file a state return without also filing federal. I’m apprehensive before I go down that route. 

[keegs13]

Sorry for the confusion. I already filed the federal return. My profile has a pending MA state return to file and that’s it. 

[ThomasM125]

Since you've already filed the federal return, you would have to start a new return to file the state return separately. So, you'd need to set up a new TurboTax account. You could do this free of charge just to see what the net result would be. It is true that you need to prepare a federal return to file a state return, but whether or not you need to submit the federal return electronically to allow you to do the same for the state return would vary by state. If you can't submit it electronically, you could mail the return in.

[keegs13]

I created the new account. I am not sure if it is state specific, but I am unable to file a MA return without also filing the federal return. I have already filed the federal return, so this doesn’t seem like a feasible option. 

@ThomasM125 

[ThomasM125]

You could print the state return out and mail it in.

[keegs13]

Could be user error, but it doesn’t seem like printing is possible until I file the federal return? I want to be sure because I’m already in a situation where I have bought a product that’s useless. 

[Hal_Al]

I'm not specifically familiar with MA tax rules and TT software.  But, the way it works in all states is that you allocate your income as MA or not MA income in the state interview. 

One (usually)  helpful technique is to show NH on lines 15-20 at the W-2 screen in the federal section of TT.  Since NH is a no income tax state, your actual W-2 is   probably  blank in boxes 15-20.  When you enter your W-2, in TT, enter NH in box 15 and the box 1 amount in box 16.

[ThomasM125]

You may need to indicate that you want to mail the federal return in, then you should be able to print out the state return. Also, you won't be able to print anything until you pay for the program. That is so that people won't complete their return and print it out and file it without paying for the program. Also, if you call the suppot line and explain your situation they may be able to give you a  discount.