Do I need to file my CA tax because my wife was a partial year CA resident and also due to community property tax?

[shawnxu1]

I live in MA throughout 2022, while my wife moved from CA to MA in the mid of 2022. So basically my wife needs to file both CA return and MA return as she was a partial year resident for both states. 

We are going to file federal jointly, while for MA we have to file separately. 

My wife can either do a married filing jointly or separately for CA return. In the case of MFS for CA return, do I need to file CA return even though I never lived in CA in 2022. 

[MaryK4 · Accepted solution]

Yes, income earned by a spouse in a community property state is considered community income even if the other spouse did not live in the community property state.  Instead of filing two separate California returns, it is easier to file a joint state return.