Do I need to file as "married filing separate" for VA state return? I'm in the Navy and changed my home of record from VA to AZ on 5/1/19. Fed return is Married/Joint

[jimandcathee]

I'M filing online. My wife has no income during 2019.  She has a Roth IRA.  Our investments are joint.  I completed the Federal tax return with no problem.  When I tried to complete the AZ return, I get a message stating"How To File Your Virginia Return
Based on what you've told us so far, we've determined that you'll need to use married filing separate as your filing status.
Follow this link for step-by-step instructions on how to do this". The link recommends buying TurboTax CD.  This does't make sense to me.

[JulieS]

In your case, since you are a part year Virginia resident, you can file both states jointly. Because it is a part year return, you will be able to separate the Virginia form the Arizona income very easily. 

Generally, you would file your Virginia return separately, if you and your spouse do not have the same residency status, which is why TurboTax suggested it.

[ravello96]

HELP  Crazy as it seems, I got the same message for 2021 taxes when we lived in Virginia for 8 months and Florida for 4 months, but there is no link for step by step instructions for filing married but separately in Virginia.  Bad flaw in Turbotax!!!!  When I went into forms and changed the filing status for Va. my $15 refund went to owing $217?????  Where are these step by step instructions??