Husband and I got married at end of year and I did not work due to spending month of December in hospital. Can we amend and file jointly?

[Hal_Al · Accepted solution]

Yes, you have three years to amend.

if your marital status on 12-31-16 was married, you are allowed to file as married Filing jointly for 2016 no matter how briefly you were married.

In fact, if your marital status on 12-31-16 was married, you are not allowed to file Single or Head of household (HoH)*. Your only choices are married Filing jointly (MFJ) or married Filing separately (MFS).

*There is an exception for HoH, if you have a dependent and did not live with your spouse at any time Jul 1- Dec 31.