Should spouses file separate OH returns or a single one if we live in 2 homes, in 2 different OH cities, and she came to OH mid-year, and I'm a full-year resident?

[dlantry]

I live in in City A in Ohio, year-round. My spouse lives in city B in Ohio, but just arrived mid-year. We have two households. Should we file two state tax returns to get the school district and local taxes right?

[Hal_Al · Accepted solution]

If you filed a joint federal return, you are REQUIRED to file a joint state return.

City taxes are not filed with the state return.  If you live in a a city that requires a city return to be filed, you may and should file separate city returns.

School District (SD) returns, although administered by the Ohio Dept of taxation, are also separate from state. But you are required to use the same status as state. So, you will have to file 2 SD returns (if you both live in SDs with an income tax).

To verify or find out if you live in a school district or city with an income tax enter your address at:

http://www.tax.ohio.gov/Individual/LocalTaxInformation.aspx

Don't try to do a city return in TurboTax. It's too hard for your situation. For a list of all Ohio cities with an income tax go to http://www.tax.ohio.gov/municipalities/municipal_income_tax_forms.aspx

From there, there is a link to each city’s web site and/or RITA / CCA