If you already filed your Federal return as Married Filing Separately, your California return should use the same status. However, if you qualified to file your Federal and California returns as Head of Household, you can amend the Federal return and then file the California return.
According to the California Franchise Tax Board:
If you’re married/registered domestic partner (RDP), you may choose to file separately. Each spouse or partner will prepare a separate tax return and report their individual income and deductions.
- Tax rates are higher for the married/RDP filing separately filing status
- If one person files itemized, the other spouse/RDP must file itemized as well
- Generally, you do not qualify for Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Child and dependent care credit. Check the CALEITC eligibility page for more information.
- Standardized deduction is reduced (1/2 of married/RDP filing jointly)
You may be able to file as head of household if your child lived with you and you lived apart from your spouse/RDP during the entire last six months of the year.
TurboTax may ask additional filing status questions in the California return section to confirm whether the filing status is correct.
See this TurboTax tax tips article and this California webpage for more information regarding head of household status.
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