Joint tax return while living in different states

[zizi02]

My spouse and I got married last year and we are planning on filing a joint tax return for 2024.

I live in Michigan and lived in Michigan entire 2024

My spouse lives in New York and lived in New York entire 2024

I am not employed and was not employed entire 2024. However, I have Consolidated form 1099, from stock sales.

My wife is self employed and was so entire 2024, in NY. 

I understand that we just file a joint tax return for federal.

Michigan states: "If you filed a joint federal tax return, you must file a joint Michigan income tax return". 

New York states: "If one of you was a New York State resident and the other was a nonresident or part-year resident, you must each file a separate New York return. The resident must use Form IT-201 and non-resident IT-203." - We also have an option to file a joint NY tax return. 

How can we file married jointly?
What is the step-by-step process?
How many returns are we going to end up filing in total?

Thanks in advance

@KathrynG3 

[ThomasM125]

From what you stated, you can file joint returns for federal and both states. You can do that with one account in TurboTax, altogether. Prepare the federal return first, then the two state returns as married-joint.

If you want to file separate in any state, you will need a separate federal return for both state returns, so then you would need to complete three federal returns, one to file and one for each state return that you don't file. When filing a separate state return, you populate the federal return with only one spouse's information, then you complete the separate state return and file that but don't file the federal return.

[zizi02]

Would I be filing for state tax return as a resident for both NY and MI for both of us?

[KeshaH]

For both Michigan and New York, you'd file a part year return. Allocate the appropriate income to the appropriate return.