Filing a Married Filing Jointly federal return and Married Filing Separately state returns in ProSeries

Before you start:

• Most states require the state return to use the same filing status as the federal return. Only follow these steps if the state lets a different filing status.
• ProSeries Basic doesn't split a Married Filing Jointly return.
• Make sure TSJ (Taxpayer/Spouse/Joint) indicators are turned on in ProSeries Professional. See Using the TSJ Indicators for details.

Preparing a Married Filing Jointly federal return and Married Filing Separately state returns in ProSeries Professional:

1. Prepare the clients Married Filing Jointly return using the TSJ indicators to assign specific line items to the taxpayer, spouse, or jointly.
2. Press F6 to bring up Open Form.
3. Type MFJ, then press Enter to open the MFJ vs MFS Comparison Worksheet.
4. Check the box Check This Box To Calculate Form. 
5. Select the Help button on the toolbar, and read the Tax Help for the MFJ vs. MFS Comparison Worksheet to understand how the ProSeries program assigns data to the taxpayer and the spouse.
6. Review the MFJ vs MFS Comparison Worksheet for an estimate on what the split returns will look like and make any adjustments needed on the original input locations.
7. From the File menu, select Split MFJ Return.
8. If you see a window asking you to enable the Show TSJ Indicators option, select Yes.
9. A window will appear showing you the default file names for the split returns. You can change the names if you wish.
10. Select OK to continue.
11. ProSeries will show a log of the two additional files created. Select Close.
12. Select OK on the split warning.
13. You'll now have three returns for the family. Open each return and make sure the federal returns split as expected.
    • If the spouse has a different last name, it may not be next to the taxpayers return on the HomeBase due to the alphabetical sorting.
14. In the MFJ return mark only the federal return for e-file.
15. In the MFS return mark only the state returns for e-file.
16. Go to each state and complete the MFS returns as needed.

Preparing a Married Filing Jointly federal return and Married Filing Separately state returns in ProSeries Basic:

1. Prepare the clients Married Filing Jointly return.
2. Save the MFJ return.
3. From the File menu, select Save As.
4. Enter a new file name and select Save to create an exact duplicate of the return.
5. Change the return to only have the taxpayer data and set the filing status to Married Filing Separately.
6. Add the state return and save your changes.
7. Open the original MFJ return.
8. From the File menu, select Save As.
9. Enter a new file name and select Save to create an exact duplicate of the return.
10. On the Federal Information Worksheet swap the taxpayer and spouse personal information.
11. Change the return to only have the spouse data and set the filing status to Married Filing Separately.
12. Add the state return and save your changes.