How do I change our filing status for the Montana state return (but not the Federal return) to Married FIling Separate in my TurboTax Premier?

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
June 6, 2019
1 reply
0 views

TurboTax does not allow changing state filing status. I know from using Taxslayer that you can change your filing status from MFJ to MFS for Montana to take advantage of some deductions - like the pension annuity exclusion or higher itemized health deductions.

TurboTax Premier Windows

KatrinaB48

You can file as married filing jointly on your federal return and as married filing separately on your state return. Please follow the directions below to do so.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/3301995

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"

dicooksey

The link you provided doesn't work: "Not Found. Redirecting to https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/home/misc/03/en-us." Every year, for years, TurboTax has allowed me to file as married filing jointly on my Federal return, and married filing combined separate on my Montana return. This year I did not get the option and I can't find where to change it. If I go into my Personal Info it only has one option for filing status which I assume refers to Federal filing status. There is no option to choose a different filing status for State. When I start my State return, it doesn't ask about filing status (it always has in past years). I need to change it to complete my return. Any help would be much appreciated!

dicooksey

I answered my own question:

Your Montana filing status must now be the same as your Federal filing status.

Prior to the 2024 filing year, many couples were able to reduce their tax obligation (or increase their refund) by filing “Married Filing Separately on the Same Form”. This filing status no longer exists in Montana. If you file “Married Filing Jointly” on the Federal return, you must file with the same status on your Montana return.
Source: Understanding Changes in Your 2024 Montana Tax Return - Rocky Mountain Accounting

Filing Statuses

Under the new law, taxpayers must use the same filing status used on the federal tax return. These filing statuses include married filing jointly, qualifying surviving spouse, head of household, single, and married filing separately. When filing the Montana Form 2, each of these filing statuses is considered the same as the federal filing status. Married taxpayers can no longer file separately from their spouses unless they are filing separately for federal purposes. Capital losses, passive losses, and excess business losses will no longer be allocated by spouse and will be treated the same as they are for federal purposes.

Source: Montana Tax Simplification Resource Hub - Montana Department of Revenue