Registered Domestic Partnership - e-filing does NOT work

[BastaPa]

Last year, I followed TT's guidance which was built into TT's software: one IRS e-filing (but no State) each for my partner and myself, then build another IRS report that feeds into the State report, and e-file the State report but not the IRS report.  This year, no problem with e-filing the two IRS report, but TT has taken away the ability to "e-file for the State while not e-filing for the IRS"; and forgot to notify its customers, or to train their "tax experts" who were a bit dumbfounded when I called to report the problem; and also TT took away their RDP Guidance from the software - it was there a couple of months ago, but it's now gone.  Therefore, the ONLY way that TT is telling me is to "file for the State on Paper" - in this day and age of everything going electronic?  Why?  And why not find work-arounds that would help clients who are 5 minutes away from being done, just need to e-file - and now need to print and mail, without knowing whether to also include the IRS report - and which report, the Mock one or the two reports previously e-filed?  I just don't get it.  Hours to print the report. 

[DawnC]

What state are you trying to file?    The state return can be e-filed only if the associated federal return was also e-filed.    See RDP guidance

Although state returns can be e-filed with your federal return (or after your federal return has already been accepted), it's no longer possible to e-file state returns before the federal.

This adds an extra layer of security to all e-filed state returns. This also means you won't be able to e-file your state if your federal return was, or will be, paper-filed.

[BastaPa]

I thought I had explained my problem clearly.  Let me restate it differently.  Since we are Registered Domestic Partners (RDP), we have to file our IRS Returns separately.  So, now what do we do for California?  Per TT's "previous" guidance, very simple: build an IRS Return as if we were married (called IRS Mock Return), and that will funnel all necessary information into the California Joint Return, then e-file the CA Joint Return, but NOT the IRS Mock Return as the IRS does NOT allow an IRS Return for RDPs, and the IRS would be totally confused with a 3rd return in addition to the 2 separate IRS returns.  But TT did away with the capability of e-filing a California Joint Return if, as you said it, there is no IRS Joint Return to go along - which the IRS does NOT accept for RDPs.  And TT provided no other solution than: Print and mail your CA Joint Return!  And with no information given to customers.  I can think of 3 or 4 workarounds that would require minor coding, but TT does not offer any solution - except for "print".  In summary, TT does not do what it markets its software to do, i.e., e-file your returns.  

[RobertB4444]

You should be able to tell the system that you want to mail the federal return and efile California and that should solve the problem.  

Here is a step by step guide for RDP returns.

@BastaPa 

[BastaPa]

To Robert4444 who responded to my last post. 

Thank you for trying to help.  I looked at the document you sent, and the end of the section on filing to California, it says:

• Continue through the screens and follow the instructions to prepare your California returns
• Print a copy of your mock federal return (along with your state return) for your records, but don't file the mock return with the IRS

It does NOT say to "print and mail your return", but I spent 2 hours on the phone with your "tax experts", and we tried various ways of doing what you suggest, e.g., "not file to IRS", but "e-file to CA" - and they had no idea, but their research while I was trying the options, let them to conclude "the only way is for you to Print and Mail your CA return."  The next day, Anna from TT's Office the President called me and confirmed what the "tax experts" had told me - Print and Mail.  I was very upset with this. 

[VolvoGirl]

And see this thread.  Expert Robert seems to be wrong.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/file-with-turbotax/discussion/message-state-cannot-be-e-filled-bef...