I got married this year and forgot to tell my employer. Can I still file my taxes via Turbo Tax?

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

Of course.  The W-4 you gave your employer does not go to the IRS or dictate how you have to file.  It only regulates how much tax you want withheld from your paycheck.  When you file your tax return you can choose to file as married filing jointly or married filing separately.

If you were married at the end of 2017 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 each receive the $4050 personal exemption, plus the married filing jointly standard deduction of $12,700 (add $1250 for each spouse over the age of 65).  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.  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.

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

[DoninGA]

Of course you can file your tax return using TurboTax.  If you are legally married as of 12/31/2017 then you would file your tax return as either Married Filing Jointly or Married Filing Separately.  Use MFJ since it is more beneficial to you.

The W-4 you give to your employer for the calculating the taxes withheld from your wages is not relevant to how you must file your tax return.

[el-rohini]

I'm in the same situation but I noticed something while filing jointly. I added my husband's w2 and the tax return amount drastically fell down Vs not adding it. When I don't add my husband's w2 I don't get the said standard deduction. What's going on? And what's the difference? Thanks!  

[xmasbaby0]

WHY DID MY REFUND GO DOWN WHEN I ADDED ANOTHER W-2?
You started off with your first W-2 and your refund looked high?  Then you added another W-2 and it stopped looking so good? That is normal.  When you added more income, your tax liability increased, so you saw your refund decrease.  The program began by giving you your standard deduction—- which lowered your taxable income. So you are not being taxed on as much of the income on that first W-2.  Then you added taxable income--so the refund went down. Your refund (or tax due) is based on the total of your income, not “per W-2.”  Wait until you have entered ALL of your income and deduction information.  You can't really tell anything until it is all entered.  That “refund monitor” does not mean anything until everything has been entered.
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