We suggest you use a TurboTax CD/Download program.
Follow this steps:
1.
Prepare
one married filing jointly (MFJ) return to file with the IRS.
2.
Prepare
a mock married filing separate (MFS) return for each taxpayer. This is
for your records only, and will be used to generate separate state
returns for each person. The mock federal returns are not filed.
3.
Then
for the first taxpayer, label and use the first mock MFS federal return to
prepare their state MFS return. Use only their income and their half of the
deductions from the MFJ federal return.
o This ensures that TurboTax only
transfers the first taxpayer's income to their married filing separate state
return.
4.
File
this MFS state return, not
the mock federal return that it pulls the information from.
5.
For
the second taxpayer (spouse), label and use the second "mock" MFS
federal return to prepare their state MFS return. Again, use only their income
and their half of the deductions from the MFJ federal return.
6.
File
the second MFS state return, not the second mock federal return that it pulls the
information from.
Be sure to name each TurboTax federal return so you know the MFJ
federal return to file, and which mock MFS federal and state return is for
which person.
Yes, this can be tedious, but this is often the best way to
ensure you accurately minimize state tax situations with two different state
incomes.
Source: How To Prep MFJ and MFS Tax Returns
