Question

My husband and I lived in PA for all of 2020. He worked only in PA while I worked in DE and PA. Should federal wages on the DE nonresident return include his PA wages?

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
April 11, 2021
1 reply
0 views

We are filing a joint return for federal purposes, so our total combined federal wages are automatically being transferred to the DE nonresident return. However, we did not live in DE and none of my husband's income was earned in DE so I am unsure why the combined income is being taxed in DE.

TurboTax Deluxe Online

E

ErnieS0

Yes. Federal wages will transfer to a Delaware joint return even if only one spouse had DE income.

You can file married filing separate for Delaware. Delaware says this is advantageous if only one spouse worked in DE. If you file joint, your DE tax rate will be based on your combined income, as if all the income were earned there, though you will only pay tax on the DE percentage of your total income.

See: How do I prepare a joint federal return and separate state returns?

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