Hi, I know I have asked a few questions and gone to site but I am still confused. I don't mean to be a pain but I am going to try and explain what I have. I am used to using the Tax-Act program every year & Tax -Act will not support my situation.
OK My husband worked in Florida for the past 10 years where it was very easy to file just federal return. We still live in Florida but he now works and drives to his job in Georgia which Georgia has State tax taken out. I understand that I have to file a non-resident for Georgia on the state tax.
He will get a w-2 for Florida & a w-2 for Georgia. Can you tell me what program I can purchase that will support what I have to do to file and what is the steps I need to take to do this all right.
Do I file Florida & Georgia together for federal and then file Georgia state tax separate?
Can I used on my federal return a credit for paying state tax to Georgia?

In addition to te federal TaxAct software (for about $65-$100, depending on which version you buy), you will need to purchase the Georgia state software package (for about $55).

You report on the Georgia non-resident return only income earned with Georgia's state borders.

You can deduct as an itemized deduction the amount of Georgia state taxes withheld, but unless you own a home on which you are paying a mortgage, it is moe likely that your $10,900 joint standard deduction will exceed your accumluated itemized deductions.

Of course, you could get a tax pro to do the return for you for about what you would pay for the tax software.

If you want my professional help, email me at [email protected].

Country 63, I will answer what I can about your taxes.

On your federal tax return, you will include all the income you and your husband have made during the year, no matter what state it was earned in. For example, let's say your total income showing on the W-2 from FL shows $25,000 in wages, and the W-2 from GA shows $30,000. You combine those 2 totals ($55,000) to arrive at the figure you place on your federal tax return.

Since the state of FL HAS NO state income tax, there is NO state return to file with the state of FL to report the $25,000 earned in that state. GA, on the other hand, DOES tax income made in that state, so you will have to file a GA STATE TAX RETURN for the $30,000 earned in that state.

Although you did not say, can I assume that your husband works for the same company but they just have him working in GA for now?? If that is the case, then you will want to be sure to include transportation expenses as a deduction on your federal tax return, Schedule A. However, if he is working for a separate company altogether, then his traveling back and forth for the job would be considered "commuting miles" and he would NOT be able to take that deduction.

As far as what computer program you can purchase to support filing both a federal and GA state return, I personally do not know of one. I am only aware of computer tax prep programs that will do the federal tax return and not any states-----I am assuming that is because a company would not be able to mass produce a product like that since each state has its own set of tax regulations.

Hope this helps some. As a tax preparer in NC, I have done a few GA tax returns. If I remember correctly, they are not very hard to do---easier than NC's---so even if you have to do it by hand by reading the instructions that come with the GA tax form, you shouldn't have a lot of trouble.