Student in one state and family in other

[GSingh]

Situation:

• I have family (Wife, Kids) and House in Ohio
• I live in Massachusetts as a fulltime student 
• I work part time in MA (Tax is deducted for MA and local city from payscheck) - I live here full year round (i travel ohio once a month for weekend)
• I get money from my student loans to pay for my living expenses as well
• My Wife in OH has no Income (I support them in Ohio)
• My Bank accounts and Creditcards use my Ohio address. 
• I wish to FIle federal as MFJ

Question:

• In federal Tax when it ask for my resident state - is it MA or OH?
• How do I file my MA tax (I assume MFS 0 Just me)
• I contacted my City in Ohio, they said as i hav ebank account and other stuff in Ohio they consider me a resident of their city and I am required to file the local tax my my OH city) - How will I do that?
• Should I also file OH tax or only my wife will (Wife Files MFS or we File MFJ)?

[AmyC · Accepted solution]

It sounds like your life is in Ohio and that is where you intend to be. MA is just passing through for school, not as a resident. You are an OH resident with a nonresident MA return. Fill out the MA forms first to calculate tax liability for MA. Then fill out OH and they will give you a credit for MA tax liability.

You can file MFJ for everything. For MA, you were both nonresidents for the same period of time so MFJ is acceptable on all 3 returns.

When you go through the OH program, you may be able to file your local taxes or at least fill out the form. You can se the available forms here.

You get credit for the lower state tax on the lowest taxable amount.

• Each state calculates taxable income differently. 
• Each state has its own tax rate/ system.
• You get the lowest of both categories as a tax credit.