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New Member
posted Jan 17, 2024 7:50:08 AM

How do you change your filing status after you started and your situation changes? Issue is that I was at the point in filing that I "paid" turbo but haven't sent to irs.

I tried to delete return and start over option but that isn't working due to me "paying" for my service. I need to change status from Married to Married and filing seperate. Ex wants to file his own now.

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2 Replies
Level 15
Jan 17, 2024 8:04:04 AM

Please explain why you are referring to an "ex" and a married tax return.   Were you divorced by the end of 2023?   If you were divorced by the end of 2023, you cannot file as married.   You can only file as Single---or maybe Head of Household if you have the children.

 

 

 

Or...if you are still legally married--not divorced yet---your filing choices are to file a joint return or file married filing separately.    Or---again---maybe Head of Household if you lived apart for at least sic months at the end of 2023 and you have the children.

 

 

If you did not already e-file, you can still make changes.   You can use the trick of clicking on "Add a State" which will let you back in to the return to make changes -- and you do not really have to add a state return.

 

 

If you were legally married at the end of 2023 your filing choices are married filing jointly or married filing separately.

 

Married Filing Jointly is usually better, even if one spouse had little or no income. When you file a joint return, you and your spouse will get the married filing jointly standard deduction of $27,700 (+$1500 for each spouse 65 or older)  You are eligible for more credits including education credits, earned income credit, child and dependent care credit, and a larger income limit to receive the child tax credit. 

 

If you choose to file married filing separately, both spouses have to file the same way—either you both itemize or you both use standard deduction. Your tax rate will be higher than on a joint return.

 

 Some of the special rules for filing separately include: you cannot get earned income credit, education credits, adoption credits, or deductions for student loan interest. A higher percent of your Social Security benefits may be taxable. Your limit for SALT (state and local taxes and sales tax) will be only $5000 per spouse. In many cases you will not be able to take the child and dependent care credit. The amount you can contribute to a retirement account will be affected. If you live in a community property state, you will be required to provide additional information regarding your spouse’s income. ( Community property states:  AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI)

 

 If  you are using online TurboTax to prepare your returns, you will need to prepare two separate returns and pay twice since with online, you get one return per fee.

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894449-married-filing-jointly-vs-married-filing-separately

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901162-married-filing-separately-in-community-property-states

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894449-is-it-better-for-a-married-couple-to-file-jointly-or-separately

Level 15
Jan 17, 2024 8:04:08 AM

You change your filing status in the My Info section of the program.

Click on My Info on the left side of the program screen

Click on the Edit button for your filing status