Married and living in different states

[Emancini228]

My husband just started working and living in RI but I am staying and working in CT. Should we file separately? Not sure the best way to go about this, thank you!

[JotikaT2]

It depends.

If your spouse meets the requirements by Rhode Island of the intent to leave his domicile in Connecticut, and establish a new domicile in Rhode Island, and actually plans to stay there without the intent to return to Connecticut, then you would need to file separate state returns. Please see this link for additional information on Rhode Island's filing status.  

As for Connecticut, if you remain there but your spouse does intend to change domicile to another state, then you would be required to file separately per these instructions.

Finally, if your spouse does not change his domicile and the intent is to return to Connecticut, then you may be able to file a joint return for both federal and state, but he will also need to file a nonresident return for Rhode Island.  See this link from Connecticut for more details.  

@Emancini228 

[Happilymarried]

Thanks for the information! This is very helpful. How about California and Washington state?

[Starrcd]

Hi! I'd like to know about our situation. Husband lives and works in AL. I live and work in TN. We commute between homes several times a month. Thank you! 

[Starrcd]

Hello, 

I'd like to know about our situation. My husband lives and works in AL and I live and work in TN. We travel between our homes several times a month. Thank you! 

[Terri Lynn]

Hello Starrcd, and thank you for your question!

You and your spouse can file a married filing joint, or married filing separate federal tax return.  It is  recommended that the address listed on the federal return is listed as the one that belongs to the person who would prefer to receive any IRS mail.   As far as your state tax filings go, Alabama is one of the states that requires taxpayers to file married filing separate, if one spouse is a resident of Alabama, and the other spouse is a resident of another state.  Tennessee, on the other hand is among the states with no individual income tax; so, as a Tennessee resident with only Tennessee sourced income, you will not need to file a state return. 

Go here for steps on how to handle this situation in TurboTax:

• How to file a MFJ Federal Return but MFS State Returns  

For additional information on filing status' see:

• Why file MFJ Vs. MFS 
• Which should I choose, MFJ or MFS? 

Please feel free to reach backout with any additional questions or concerns you might have!

Have an amazing rest of your day!

Terri Lynn, EA

[Terri Lynn]

Hello Starrcd and thank you for your question!

You and your spouse can file a maried filing joint, or married filing separate federal tax return.  You will want to use the address of whichever one of you who would prefer to receive any IRS mail or corespondence.

  As far as your state tax filings go, Alabama, is one of the states that requires taxpayers to file married filing separate, if one spouse is a resident of Alabama, and the other spouse is a resident of another state. 

Tennessee, on the other hand is among the states with no individual income tax, which means that as a Tennessee resident, with only Tennessee sourced income, you will not need to file a state return. 

For how to handle this in TurboTax, see:

• How to file a MFJ Federal with MFS States 

For more information on Married Filing Joint verses Married Filing Separate see:

• MFJ or MFS 
• Which should I choose, MFJ or MFS? 

Please feel free to reach backout with any additional questions or concerns you might have!

Have an amazing rest of your day!

Terri Lynn, EA

[4fleahead]

My husband lives and works in Indiana, I live and work in Florida. We jointly own homes in each state. We have 2 dependent children, both over the age of 18 that live permanently in Indiana. We have filed joint federal taxes in the past using the Indiana address. He has filed a married but separate Indiana return for the past 3 years. Is the acceptable to continue? Moving forward how can we do this using Turbo Tax as he has mailed a paper return to Indiana in the past without my Florida income included. Thank you.

[Akorto]

Hello!

My husband predominantly works in WA now. I am about evenly split between OH and WA. We have a house in Ohio (that was our primary residence and/or tax home for 6.5 out of the past 8 years) that we rent out 3 rooms in but also maintain space for ourselves. We have an apartment in WA. I am wondering if you have suggestions for us?

Thanks!!

[TomD8]

@4fleahead --

Looks like you should have ben filing a joint Indiana return.

From page 5 of the instructions for Indiana Form IT-40PNR:

Married Filing Jointly
If you filed your federal income tax return as married filing
jointly, you must also file as married filing jointly with Indiana.

Married persons filing jointly must use Indiana Form IT-40PNR when one spouse is a full-year Indiana resident, and the other is a full-year non-resident who does not reside in a reciprocal state.

You can download the Indiana forms and booklets here:

https://www.in.gov/dor/tax-forms/2023-individual-income-tax-forms/

[tmbz]

Also interested in the topic: 

My spouse moved to Florida (October 2024) for work. He is renting an apartment there.

I will remain in Maryland full-time in our home. I work work in MD. 

Should we file married, separately for Federal? Or married joint Federal & separate state taxes (him in FL, me in MD)? **This question is for both the coming tax year (3 months living in different states) and moving forward for the next tax year. 

Thank you ! 

[TomD8]

@tmbz --

Your situation does not require filing your federal return separately, so that can still be a joint return.

Florida has no income tax so nothing to file there.

If your husband is in Florida temporarily for work purposes, while keeping MD as his main or primary home, then for tax purposes he remains a resident of MD and all his income remains taxable by MD, including his earnings from Florida.

[CR2024]

We currently live in WA state but my husband is likely moving to Tennessee for work. We typically file jointly, wondering how this works in different states? 

[DoninGA]

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@CR2024 wrote:

We currently live in WA state but my husband is likely moving to Tennessee for work. We typically file jointly, wondering how this works in different states? 

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Since neither Washington state nor Tennessee have a personal income tax you only need to file a federal tax return reporting all of your income and use Married Filing Jointly as your filing status.