Married filing jointly vs separately if income in different states

[JJyt22]

Hi, 

My husband earned income in NC from mid 2024 (was unemployed in MA from Jan 2024-July 2024). I earned income in MA for 2024. Husband moved to NC mid 2024 and I moved to NC end of 2024. Is married filing jointly better for us? How do we make sure we are not taxed twice? 

Thanks.

[JamesG1]

You are both part-year residents of MA and NC even though your moves to NC took place at different times.

Your income is only reported to MA.  Assuming that your husband did not receive unemployment income from MA, your husband's income is only reported to NC.

There does not appear to be a need to report a credit for taxes paid to another state.

Not knowing all of the aspects of your tax returns, you may want to prepare a joint tax return as well as individual married filing separate tax returns to see which is preferable.

Each TurboTax account will only support one TurboTax Online tax return.  You would have to create multiple accounts to create two married filing separate tax returns and a married filing joint tax return.

However, TurboTax Desktop allows you to create multiple tax returns and electronically file up to five tax returns.

[JJyt22]

Thanks @JamesG1 

I was reading and it seems like MA does not allow joint filing if we both were not residents for the same portion of the year. It says the following on https://www.mass.gov/info-details/filing-status-on-massachusetts-personal-income-tax

"Please note that a joint return isn't allowed if both you and your spouse weren't Massachusetts residents for the same portion of 2024."

Am I understanding this correctly then that we cannot file a joint federal and state tax for FY2024? 

Thanks,

[JamesG1]

You are correct.

You may not file a MA married filing joint tax return.

Massachusetts Department of Revenue states:

Please note that a joint return is not allowed if both you and your spouse were not Massachusetts residents for the same portion of 2024.

You may still file a married filing joint IRS form 1040 tax return but you will still have to to prepare multiple tax returns to prepare the married filing separately tax returns to Massachusetts.