Resident of New York City working in New Jersey - how to enter income for New Jersey Non Resident so is not double counted?

[Brooklyn99]

My wife and I are both residents of NYC filing jointly. She worked in NYC all year, but I switched companies at the beginning of 2024 to a new job, based in New Jersey.  Filling out the New Jersey Non-Resident, on the screen "Did you earn all of your wages in New Jersey?" (1040NR line 15) - what is the correct way to enter my salary attributable to NJ so that it doesn't get double-counted for both NY and NJ? 

Also, how do I avoid my wife's W2 and other income being dragged over into the NJ return by TurboTax since she has no connection to NJ? Should I switch status to filing as Single for NJ?

[DavidD66]

You will file a New York resident return and a New Jersey non-resident return.  You should complete the nonresident New Jersey return first, followed by the New York resident return. It is important to complete your taxes in that order.  New York will issue you a credit for tax paid to another state (New Jersey).  Completing the returns in that order will ensure the calculations are correct. 

Your New Jersey return should only have your New Jersey income on the nonresident return.  Your New York return will also include your New Jersey income.  As a New York resident, all of your income is taxable by New York, regardless of where it was earned.  As you go through the New Jersey return, you will be able to allocate income taxable to New Jersey.

If you and your spouse were nonresidents for the entire tax year, and your are the only one that has income from New Jersey sources, you can file a New Jersey nonresident return using the Married/Civil Union Filing Separately status. Your wife may also use that status, even if you filed a joint federal return. You also have the option of filing a joint nonresident return, but you will have to combine your income and deductions.