Married filing jointly different states

[MicahHeil]

My wife and I just got married this summer and we're confused on our tax situation. We have heard that it is advantageous to file jointly, but she is a resident of WA and I am a resident of MT. She is currently in a doctor program and has no income, where I have a decent income and work in WA. Would it be best for me to become a WA resident for our tax filing, or can we still file jointly as residents of different states. I have heard that Montana has an income tax whereas Washington doesn't, but I don't know how that impacts our situation.

[xmasbaby0]

WA has no state income tax.   MT does have a state income tax, and since you have been living in MT, you are subject to paying MT state tax even though you work in WA.  You pay state tax to the state you live in if that state has a state income tax..   You and your spouse can file a joint federal tax return so that you get all of the advantages of filing jointly.   You have nothing to file for WA.   If you move to WA before the tax year ends, you will need to file a part year MT return for the income you received while you lived in MT.    If you stay in MT for all of 2024, you will file a full year MT state return.  You say your spouse has no income at all (??) so your MT return should not be impacted by the fact that you are married.

[xmasbaby0]

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