I filed married separate then amended to file joint with husband. When I filed separate, I got a return. Amended shows owing. How do I determine who gets return? Owes?

[dianacj70]

My son is mine legally and I had more taxes deducted from my paychecks. My husband made less and owes on his own when filed separate. When I amended it shows we owe and I already received my return after filing separate. Is he owed any of my return? And who owes? Is it his responsibility or both?

[candyrandy11]

I would not refile with an ammended return if you end up owing more than if he would have filed separate.  But, if you have, then lets say you receive $100 filing on separate, but owe $35 when filing married. In that case, your husband should pay $35.
If you want to be exact, then look at what happens in terms of owing or refund in turbo tax as married filing status when you ONLY put your information and then see what happens to the totals as you add his. The difference should be what he should pays. If you file married, the responsibility is legally yours and his together if you owe money. So before you file an ammended return jointly, calculate how much he would owe AND get his credit card or have him pay you in advance if you think it will be an issue.  
Also, you can do the same what if scenario and show him that he would owe LESS (likely) if you file married to demonstrate why he is still better off paying some money in what he ALONE owes than if he files separately. (assuming that is the case with your particular financials). The great thing about Turbo Tax is that you can use it to do "what if " analysis BEFORE you file and use it in the same spirit to do TAX PLANNING (estimates) for the following year's return so you can make the right TAX choices in the current YEAR. Hope this helps!

[dianacj70]

Well I ended up getting a return and when he filed he ended up owing a lot when filed separate. I’m trying to explain to him that I got almost double taken from me tax wise than he did and I legally have custody of my son so I got a return for that as well. When I amended he owes quite less than he would have if he filed separate. He will just have to pay the amount

[Hal_Al]

MFS does not qualify for EIC, but MFJ does

[macuser_22]

It is very difficult to compare MFS to MFJ since the tax and credits are different for each.   On a joint return all income is added together and the refund (or tax owed) is based on the combined income and tax on that income.  There is no "his and hers" tax or refund, it is combined on joint and not directly related to what is on a separate return.  (comparing apples to oranges).