How do I do a Federal e-file (Married Filing Jointly), and State e-file (Married Filing Separately) ?

[adhertz]

My wife and I live in two different states.  I have followed the instructions in reference link [1] below to create a Federal Return (Married Filing Jointly), and a State Return (Married filing separately). At the end of this step, I have

[a] One Federal return for my wife and I,

notes: This return was created under the "Married Filing Jointly" status.

comments: no issues here. I can e-file our federal return. I can choose not to go ahead with the state returns. In-fact it'd be wrong to e-file our state taxes under the "Married Filing Jointly" when we are living in two different states.

[b] One State return for myself

notes: This return was created under the "Married Filing Separately" status.

comments: I don't want to file my federal in this tax return. I just need to e-file my state return. How do I do that? The only way to get to the States e-file section is by e-filing federal first. And e-filing federal here would be wrong because I've already filed our federal under joint status (see bullet [a])

[c] One state return for my wife.

notes: This return was created under the "Married Filing Separately" status.

comments: I don't want to file my wife's federal in this tax return. I just need to e-file my wife's state return. How do I do that? The only way to get to the States e-file section is by e-filing federal first. And e-filing federal here would be wrong because I've already filed our federal under joint status (see bullet [a])

I have used the desktop version and all of the above returns; and, they exist in their own world (with a separate .tax2020 file).

Question:

[1] Is there a way to e-file federal tax return in [a], and e-file state tax returns in [b] and [c] ?

[2] One potential way is to e-file federal (married filing jointly), and paper file state (married filing separately) for my wife and I. Is this the only way out of this situation? 

Reference:

[1] https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/how-do-i-prepare-a-joint-federal-return-and-se...

[VolvoGirl]

Sorry,  yes you have to print and mail the state returns.  

[VolvoGirl]

See the NOTE on that FAQ you linked to.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/how-do-i-prepare-a-joint-federal-return-and-se... 

Note: State returns prepared using the mock federal returns will require you to print and file your state return by mail, please click here to learn more.

[adhertz]

Thank you so much!

Federal e-file (Married filing Jointly): how does my wife sign this return? Is it just the two different Personal Identification Numbers we give towards the end of the e-filing step?

I have similar questions when I print out my wife's return and mail it to the IRS. Do I need to physically mail her the tax return, she then prints it out, signs it and then mails it to the IRS?

I'm a little confused when it comes to the signing part of the document....