RDP or married

[ronjt]

My girlfriend and I are registered domestic partners in California. We want to file as RDP filing separately. When I do that, the software changes my selection from RDP to married. Is that a problem?

[ThomasM125]

Since you are not married, you cannot file as married, only single or head of household if you qualify as such. You need to change your filing status to single in the federal information section.

[ronjt]

I think you may have misinterpreted my question.

My girlfriend and I are registered domestic partners in California. We file as single with the IRS. On the California return we want to file as RDP filing separately. When I do that, the software changes my filing status from RDP to married. Is that a problem or is it designed to do that?

[ThomasM125 · Accepted solution]

Since you are registered domestic partners, you must file as married/RDP filing jointly or married/RDP filing separate returns. So, you have a choice to file separately or jointly, but either way it will show you as married.