I accidentally filed as single, when actually I am married (its new and I am not used to clicking the "married" button on anything yet!) Can I go back and change this?

[Texas Roger]

If your efiled return was accepted, you will have to wait to make the change. Once you submit your return to TurboTax for efiling, it is just like dropping your return in the mailbox--you can't get it back. If the IRS rejects your return, you can make the changes, fix the reason for the rejection and resubmit it. If the IRS accepts your return, you should wait until you receive a refund (if you are getting one) and then you can prepare, print, sign, and mail an amended (changed) return form 1040X to make the changes. Form 1040X is estimated to be available in TurboTax on 2/22/19 but the date has changed at least 3 times. Do not change your original return until you begin the amended return.

Did the return include only your income? If so, and you don't want to file jointly with your spouse, then you can just change to Married Filing Separately on your amended return. Your taxes may be higher since many credits available on a single return are not allowed on a MFS return.

Your other alternative is to file Married Filing Jointly and include your spouses information. It is almost always better to file MFJ than MFS. It would be a little more complicated to change to MFJ especially if your spouse already filed MFS. 

[Starrtriplett003467]

This is my story!

Me and husband been separated over 100yrs even tho we're still legally married.

I filed single head of household, not to mention this is my first time filing my own taxes.

My lack of knowledge interpretation of being single head of household would also mean.

Me living on my own separate from husband would be single head of household.

Now I'm nervouse because I submitted the form.

Is it a way I can correct it or something 

[fanfare]

you can't choose Head of Household without a dependent.

You probably filed Single.

Review your 1040.

@Starrtriplett003467 

[Texas Roger]

If you already submitted the form for filing and it has been accepted by the IRS, you can't change it. You will have to file an amended return later to make the change. If you do not have a dependent and meet the other requirements, you can't file as head of household. You would have to file married filing separately unless the person you are still married to agrees to file married filing jointly. 

Head of Household filing status qualifications:
1. You are not married or “considered unmarried” on the last day of the year. You are considered unmarried if you lived apart from your spouse the entire last 6 months of the year.
2. If "considered unmarried" you file a separate return from your spouse.
3. You paid more than half the cost of keeping up your home for the year.
4. You have a qualifying child (whether or not you claim the dependency exemption) or you claim a dependency exemption for a “qualifying person”  who is related to you and who lived with you in the home for more than half the year. An exception is a parent does not have to live with you to be a qualifying person.

[LeenIssa]

My husband filed married filing jointly but due to my immigration status I was only able to put married filing separately on my W4 withholding form. I accidentally filed as single though and realized that I should’ve done married filing separately. Or would it be easier to wait for my husband to amend and add me to his returns? 

[DaveF1006]

To clarify, have you already filed and submitted your return to the IRS?

[LeenIssa]

Yes, I have. It’s my first time doing taxes. My husband taxes were accepted and being processed. What shall we do? 

[ErnieS0]

You should not file a tax return if your husband filed married filing jointly. That means both of you are on the joint tax return.

The IRS should have rejected your return if you e-filed, because your Social Security or ITIN would be marked as e-filed with his return.

You also mention your immigration status.

Are you and your husband U.S. residents or nonresidents for tax purposes?

If you are a non-resident you would only be able to file a joint return if your husband is a U.S. citizen or resident alien and elects to include you (nonresident spouse) on a joint return.

The US allows a US citizen to file together with a nonresident spouse. 

[Starrtriplett003467]

I do have dependants

[LeenIssa]

Thank you for this response. My hope is they reject my taxes and my husband will amend his returns when he can to add my W-2. Yes he is a citizen 

[ErnieS0]

Even if you were legally married as of December 31, you're considered unmarried (and therefore eligible for Head of Household) if all five of these conditions apply:

1. You won't be filing jointly with your spouse
2. Your spouse didn't live in your home after June (temporary absences due to illness, school, vacation, business, or military service don't count)
3. Your home was your child's, stepchild's, or foster child's main home for more than half the year (non-child dependents in your home don't qualify)
4. You paid more than half the costs of keeping up your home during the tax year
5. You meet the qualifications to claim the child as your dependent, even if the other (noncustodial) parent is actually claiming the child as a dependent on their return

You can also be considered unmarried for Head of Household if your spouse was a nonresident alien at any time during the tax year and you're not treating them as a resident alien.

Can a married person claim Head of Household filing status?

@Starrtriplett003467 

Hopefully your return will be rejected @LeenIssa 

[PatinWA]

My son-in-law also did this. My daughter, his wife, has not yet filed. What filing status should she use? How do they fix this? They want to file a joint return.  Btw, she itemizes and he doesn’t. 

[GeorgeM777]

Yes, you son-in-law can amend their return to change filing status from single to married filing jointly.  Before amending the tax return your son-in-law will need to wait until such return has been accepted by the IRS.  You can amend a return only after it has been filed and accepted by the IRS.  E-filed returns are considered filed when you have received notice from the government that your return has been accepted.  If your return has been rejected, it is not considered filed.

Mailed returns are considered filed the date you post your return.

When your son-in-law is ready to amend, a previously filed return can be accessed in TurboTax online, from the TurboTax home page.  Scroll down the screen to the section Your tax return & documents.  If you have used TurboTax CD/download, then you can amend your previously filed return by selecting Other Tax Situations, and then scroll down to Other Tax Forms. 

Just an FYI regarding spouses that file separate.  When one spouse itemizes, the other spouse must also itemize their deductions on their return as well.  The other spouse cannot take the standard deduction. 

@PatinWA 

[VolvoGirl]

If they amend his return to Joint and add her info to it then they get a higher Standard Deduction  $25,900 which might be more than their itemized deductions.