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Multiple state filings for newlyweds

My wife and I were married at the tale end of 2024. 

 

She lived and worked in another state before we got married and now we both live in the same state with Jobs in that state. 

 

We are filing Married filing joint for federal, but for state I don't want to pay taxes to a state I didn't live in. How should we go about filing our state taxes? 

 

my understanding is we would need to create mock federal returns with only our respective information and then file our states individually. IF that's the case, would we still mark ourselves as married or single?

 

If that isn't the solution, can someone help me understand how we would go about this?

 

Thanks in advance!

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5 Replies

Multiple state filings for newlyweds

@sayanprince1986 

 (Tail end of 2024, is kind of a hazy statement.  2 Dec is one thing, 31 Dec is something else)

________________________________

If you proceed to file separately you do NOT file as "Single"  it would have to be MFS-state...

_________________________________________

OK...how you proceed, depends on which states are involved.

 

For instance...some states "Require" you to use the same filing status in the state forms, as you declare on the Federal form.

 

Other states let you file MFS-state, even if you file MFJ-Federal.

___________________

Even so, it might work out OK to file MFJ-Federal and MFJ-State for the states involved.

 

For instance:

Your new spouse's information on the personal Info page, you should indicate she is now a resident of your state, and that she "moved"  from the other state  (whatever date, ASSUMING she actually moved to your state either before, or immediately right after marriage....either case being  in 2024?). 

 

That will trigger the part-year tax return for her state, (and may also do so for your current state too, since 'one" of you was a part-year resident).  During the Part year interview for her former state, there will be Income Allocation questions where you will be able to take out your own income from being taxable income for her state, since you were not a resident there, and earned no income there.   Likewise, if your own state Part-Year is triggered (most likely) then you will be able to remove her pre-move income from being reported as being taxed by your own state...and anything after her move does get taxed.

 

Most states in this situation, calculate a tax based on full year income from all sources, then ratio it down based on the % you reported belonged to them during the income allocation phase.  (some states take the full year income from the Federal form, then ratio down the taxable income first, then apply the tax....NC works that way).

 

Don't rush it, some state's forms won't be complete in the software until after 30 January. and you should take all of Feb and part of March to work on it if you decide to do it yourselves.

_____________________

But in the end, if it gets to be too messy  for you, then it might be easier to just get a local professional to file for you this year.  Then file on your own for 2025 when you file it next year.

____________*Answers are correct to the best of my knowledge when posted, but should not be considered to be legal or official tax advice.*
Hal_Al
Level 15

Multiple state filings for newlyweds

Q. We are filing Married filing joint for federal, but for state I don't want to pay taxes to a state I didn't live in. How should we go about filing our state taxes? 

A. You, most likely, should file as Married Filing Jointly on the two state returns.  You will not pay any tax, on your income, to her former state.  As the other reply said, your income may get reported on the other return, but it won't get taxed.

 

That's the general answer.  For more specific advice, identify the two states. 

 

 

BrittanyS
Employee Tax Expert

Multiple state filings for newlyweds

Each state has their own guidelines for how you can file your return if you are married.  As SteamTrain stated, some states require you to file Married Filing Joint returns if you file a Married Filing Joint Federal Return.  If you were married in 2024 you will file either Married Filing Joint or Married Filing Separately.  You will not file Single. 

 

Also, many states will give credits for taxes paid to other states.  For help with multistate returns, see the link below:

 

 

@sayanprince1986 

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Multiple state filings for newlyweds

Some other general info,  If you need to file a Joint federal and separate state returns

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

 

Reading the FAQ it looks like you have to use 3 accounts.  One to file the Joint federal return.  Then you each need another account to fill out fake federal MFS returns to do your separate state returns.    So you will have to PAY for 3 online accounts (3 federal returns and 2 state returns).  That's why it's cheaper to use the Desktop installed program.    If you don't have a computer to install the desktop program on maybe it would be cheaper and easier to go to a local accountant or tax place.

 

You will have to mail the 2 separate state returns.   

Multiple state filings for newlyweds

Hi,

 

I have the same situation and the actual refund is not an issue (it is correct that I only have to pay taxes on the income I made in my previous state and my spouse does not). BUT I am having an issue e-filing because Turbo Tax keeps making me repeat the questions at the end when I get to the state e-filing because my spouse does not have any ID from the state I lived in before we were married (because he never lived there of course). 

It keeps asking me if he has a state ID for Illinois- where only I lived (even though I put in his California drivers license info) and when I click NO it just makes me repeat the whole section again. It's saying I can't e-file if he doesn't have an Illinois state ID but he doesn't have any taxable income in Illinois because he never lived there!

Please let me know what to do about this issue asap.

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