I noticed a tax deduction difference on my pay check and want to make sure they are withholding enough so that I don't have to pay in.
What you put on your W-4 for your employer does not dictate how you file your tax return. It only affects how much tax your employer withholds from your paycheck. But why do you intend to file separate tax returns--usually the worst way to file?
If you were married at the end of 2016 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 $12,600 (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. 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
What you put on your W-4 for your employer does not dictate how you file your tax return. It only affects how much tax your employer withholds from your paycheck. But why do you intend to file separate tax returns--usually the worst way to file?
If you were married at the end of 2016 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 $12,600 (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. 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
I would only be filing separate for student loan purposes. I want to make sure that we would not have to pay in when we file. I sounds like filing jointly is the better way to go. Should I not claim zero on my W2?
W-4---not W-2. <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/calculators/w4/">https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/calculators/w4/</a>
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/calculators/taxcaster/">https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/calculators/taxcaster/</a>
Thank you and on other question. Does my spouse need to change his status to married?
Again--the W-4 you fill out for your employer does not dictate how you file your tax return. What it affects if how much tax you have withheld from your paycheck. You could both use the W-4 calculator to help you determine how much you want to have your employers withhold. Since you are entertaining the idea of filing separately, you should both try out the tax caster tool for married filing jointly and married filing separate to get an idea of the effect those filing statuses have on your next tax return(s). The tax caster tool is currently geared for 2016, and some tax laws may change for 2017 tax returns; but it should give you a pretty aged idea of where you would stand.
You need to balance any student loan benefit against the extra taxes you (and your spouse) may end up paying, expecially if you live in a Communitry Property State..