Tax Year Prior to 2020: E-file state return from Mock MFS return

[jerry-i]

There are 2 different posts related to this subject:

1. How do I prepare a joint federal return and separate state returns?
• https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/how-do-i-prepare-a-joint-federal-return-and-se...
2. Can I e-file my state return before my federal?
• https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/e-file/help/can-i-e-file-my-state-return-before-my-federal/00/2554...

I fall into the situation described in item 1 where it says you must paper file. However the reference to item 2 states I should be able to E-file the first MFS state return but not a second. My MFJ Federal return has been accepted, but I assume, since that status is not visible in the Mock MFS return, I am being stopped from E-filing the state return. Is there anyway around this? Or do I have to print and file a paper MFS return? I am thinking TurboTax treats the two files as independent and felt it was too confusing or dangerous to provide a feature to check the MFJ file to see that the E-file of the Federal return was accepted and there was no joint state return filed to allow the MFS state return to be E-filed.

[JotikaT2]

You cannot electronically file your MFS returns.

You will need to paper file both MFS returns.  

And no, you cannot electronically file any state returns before you electronically file your federal return.

But since you are filing as married filing jointly for federal purposes, you will need to mail in both of your state returns since those are being filed as married filing separately.

[jerry-i]

Got it, I must paper file the MFS state return. I understand I can't file the state return before the Federal return, but did say in my original message that our MFJ Federal return has already been E-filed and accepted. So no issue there.

There isn't a second MFS state return to paper file in our situation because our residence is Florida, which doesn't require a state return in general. My spouse had no taxable 2019 income in Virginia, which is why I ended up in this situation of having to file a Virginia MFS return that can't be E-filed.  I was a Virginia resident with income for part of 2019, but I retired in May and moved to Florida where I established residency there before the end of May.

What's confusing is TurboTax says to include a printout of our Federal return with the MFS state return to be paper filed. But when I generate the print file for filing the MFS state return, it includes sheets from the mock MFS federal return. There is nothing in the post referenced by item 1 that addresses this. Can you verify that I am to printout the MFJ federal return used for filing and attach that to the MFS state return? Also the Federal MFJ return that was filed used the standard deduction selected by TurboTax, but for the state MFS return TurboTax selected itemized deductions because it maximized the refund. Is this an issue, will I need to printout and attach other forms? If yes, then which ones and from which file - the one used to file the MFJ federal return or the mock MFS federal return that isn't filed?

[WKins2]

Yes, you will need to print and include the federal return with your state return along with any tax documents that have withholding on them (I.e. W-2’s). You should use the filed MFJ returns that was filed, not the mock return. Some states allow you to take the itemized deduction even though you took the standard deduction at the federal level .