My husband and I are both on Active Duty in the Military, and we were married in May of this year so this will be the first year filing Jointly.
Is it sensible to file joint federal taxes and separate state taxes this year (Wisconsin and Maryland) even though we are both stationed and living in Virginia?

Most states require you file the state returns the same way as you file your federal return, i.e. in your case, jointly.

However, even though you are filing jointly, you will declare ONLY the income that is subject to that state tax. In other words, you declare YOUR income to YOUR state and HIS income to HIS state. When you file the state returns, attach a copy of the other state's return for information purposes.

Since I am retired military, I have some expertise in this area, so, should you find this tax to be a bit too much for you to handle, you can contact me at [email protected] for detailed advice if necessary.