Anyone know tax software for Married Filing Separately in a community property state?

General
1

I’m in a situation with student loans and I think filing Married Filing Separately might be the best option. We also live in a community property state. I’ve seen some people use the desktop version of TurboTax for this, but I’m wondering if anyone here has any other software recommendations? Last year, I used FreeTaxUSA but ended up having to paper file.

2

Why did you have to file by mail last year? MFS shouldn’t stop you from e-filing.

3

Kase said:
Why did you have to file by mail last year? MFS shouldn’t stop you from e-filing.

FreeTaxUSA doesn’t allow e-filing when using MFS.

4

Parker said:

Kase said:
Why did you have to file by mail last year? MFS shouldn’t stop you from e-filing.

FreeTaxUSA doesn’t allow e-filing when using MFS.

Ah, we’re both right. FreeTaxUSA does allow e-filing MFS returns, but not when you’re in a community property state.

So your question is really ‘What software lets you file MFS in a community property state?’

5

@Kase
That’s odd. I wonder why.

6

Tali said:
@Kase
That’s odd. I wonder why.

“However, due to the need to fill out Form 8958 separately, you will be prompted to mail in your taxes to both the IRS and your home state. We provide a link to download that form, but we don’t support filling it out. We also don’t support e-filing of tax returns with MFS in community property states.”

7

@Kase
Interesting. I used to prepare community property MFS forms for the IRS, but I didn’t know about that form.

8

Tali said:
@Kase
Interesting. I used to prepare community property MFS forms for the IRS, but I didn’t know about that form.

When was that? Form 8958 has been around since 2012.

9

Kase said:

Tali said:
@Kase
Interesting. I used to prepare community property MFS forms for the IRS, but I didn’t know about that form.

When was that? Form 8958 has been around since 2012.

As recently as 2018. I just used to recreate it in Excel, but I looked it up each time.

10

Everyone seems to recommend FreeTaxUSA.

11

Tali said:
Everyone seems to recommend FreeTaxUSA.

OP’s right. FreeTaxUSA doesn’t let you e-file MFS in a community property state. I just found this out myself.