In the TaxAct® program, all information entered on the federal return flows to the attached state return(s). If taxpayers need to file using one filing status on the federal form (i.e. married filing joint), and a different filing status on the state form (i.e. married filing separate), it is not possible to have this conflict in filing statuses between the federal and state forms in one return. The program will not exclude the income from the other spouse on the state return. The exception to this is in those circumstances where the state allows for the filing status of Married Filing Separately on a combined return.

To accommodate for this situation, taxpayers would need to prepare multiple returns in TaxAct. An example of how taxpayers would file jointly for federal purposes, and separately for state purposes follows:

TaxAct Return #1 - Spouse A and Spouse B prepare a federal return with filing status Married Filing Joint Return, including both spouse's information. This federal return would be filed.

TaxAct Return #2 - Spouse A prepares a federal return with filing status Married Filing Separate Return, including only Spouse A's information (Do not file this federal return). Attach a state return to this federal return so Spouse A's information will flow to the state return. File this state return.

TaxAct Return #3 - Spouse B prepares a federal return with filing status Married Filing Separate Return, including only Spouse B's information, (Do not file this federal return). Attach a state return to this federal return so Spouse B's information will flow to the state return. File this state return.

The combined federal form (in TaxAct Return #1) should equal the two federal forms that were completed for each taxpayer separately.