If I get married by next year should I file on my own still or joint?

[KatrinaB]

If you are legally married on December 31, 2018, then you will be required to file as married on your tax return. Your filing status options for 2018 will be married filing jointly or married filing separately.

Generally, filing jointly will give you a bigger refund or fewer taxes due. When you file separately, your tax rate is higher and you won't be able to claim:

• Education benefits
• Earned Income Credit (EIC)
• Child and Dependent Care Credit (usually)
• Adoption Credit (usually)
• The same benefit married filing jointly couples get for personal exemptions, itemized deductions, the Child Tax Credit, and capital losses (all of these deductions are reduced by half)
• The standard deduction if your spouse is claiming itemized deductions.

On top of that, if you live in the community property states of Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, or Wisconsin, you have to deal with community property allocations and adjustments, which adds extra work and complexity to your tax preparation chores.

Tip: Only taxpayers who were still legally married as of December 31, 2018, are able to file as married, whether jointly or separately.

Filing jointly means you file one tax return. When filing separately, you file two tax returns.

Want to Compare?

Why would I want to file separately?

Filing Separately? Use TurboTax CD/Download

Related Information:

• How can we compare married filing jointly with married filing separately?
• How do I switch from filing jointly to filing separately?
• How do I file Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation?
• What is an innocent spouse and how does it differ from an injured spouse?

[WJMcCalpin]

Are you considered "legally married" by the IRS if you are in a common law marriage in Texas? See http://statelaws.findlaw.com/texas-law/common-law-marriage-in-texas.html