You are considered married if you were or are married as of December 31, For the majority of married couples the Married Filing Joint status is more tax advantageous. However, there are good reasons when you should use the Married Filing Separate filing status as it might be more beneficial to your specific tax situation.
If you are unsure, use our eFile. Once you determine your filing status, you will indicate it on the beginning information screen Name and Address when you prepare and eFile your Tax Return on eFile. Choosing your filing status is one of the first things you do when you start preparing your tax return online via eFile. The eFile app will select any forms and schedules for you based on your answers to simple tax questions.
We will then apply the correct tax rates and standard deduction amount to your return. When filing married filing jointly, both spouses report their income, tax deductions , and tax credits on the same tax return. Both parties are responsible for each other's tax liability.
Therefore, if you choose to file as married filing jointly your spouse will be responsible for any tax, penalties, and interest that arises from that joint tax return, even if you reported no income on the return. Tax Tip: However, if you do not believe you are responsible for some of your spouse's tax liability, penalties or interest, you should see if you qualify for Innocent Spouse Relief. Furthermore, if one spouse is not responsible for the current or past debt's of the other spouse, then the spouse might be entitled to request his or her portion of the IRS tax refund back from the IRS in case the IRS has offset the tax refund to pay the spouse's debt.
Thus, consider the Injured Spouse option. There are many benefits to filing with the Married Filing Joint status. Some of these are:. For more information, see the tax rates and standard deduction for Married Filing Jointly. In most cases, it is more tax advantageous for a married couple to file a joint tax return than a married filing separate return. However, this is not always the case.
Also if there are unpaid taxes or child support, a refund could be offset or reduced by the IRS, regardless of which spouse is responsible for the debt. See the Tax Tip above about the Innocent Spouse or Injured Spouse you can file with your return if you are concerned about this. To find out the best filing status for you, calculate your refund or balance due by using the free eFile.
Estimate your taxes with the Married Filing Joint filing status, then do a new calculation with the Married Filing Separate filing status. When you prepare your Tax Return on eFile. If you have a relatively simple tax return and want to try filing yoru taxes on your own, check out RamseySmartTax.
They have years of experience and, believe it or not, they love this stuff. Our pros can talk taxes all day! They have a thorough understanding of the tax changes this year and how they affect you and your spouse. The sooner you connect with a pro, the sooner you can check taxes off your to-do list and get back to more, well, romantic things. Find a tax expert today! Ramsey Solutions has been committed to helping people regain control of their money, build wealth, grow their leadership skills, and enhance their lives through personal development since Millions of people have used our financial advice through 22 books including 12 national bestsellers published by Ramsey Press, as well as two syndicated radio shows and 10 podcasts, which have over 17 million weekly listeners.
Guided Plans. Trusted Pros. Free Tools. What Is Married Filing Jointly? Who Can File Jointly? Taxes shouldn't be this complicated. Let us help. About the author Ramsey Solutions.
More Articles From Ramsey Solutions. Tax Pro or File Your Own? Take the Quiz. S spouse is earning a lot in the other country. S government even if your partner is living in a high tax country such as the UK.
One of the best and certainly the least cheerful reasons to file separately is if you suspect or know that your spouse is involved in or attempting something illegal. Ask your CPA to run an analysis to break down how both scenarios filing jointly and separately would work for you.
That way, if one spouse feels like they may owe another from combining the income, they can keep track. Want more tips like these? Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram. IE 11 is not supported.
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