DMarkM1
Employee Tax Expert

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Sounds like you are married and living together.  Typically you should file as Married Filing Joint assuming you have a requirement to file. Generally, if your total income does not exceed the standard deduction for your filing status you do not need to file (see below).  See Publication 501 for more details on filing status and requirements. 

 

You may however want to file to get a refund of taxes withheld.  Filing jointly gives you a higher deduction and better tax rates which typically lowers your tax or increases your refund (see below) whereas filing as separate may disallow some credits or deductions.

 

Filing jointly   

 

Both under age 65                              $27,700

65 or older (one spouse)                    $29,200

65 or older (both spouses)                 $30,700

 

Vs filing separately 

 

both under age 65                              $13,850

65 or older (one spouse)                   $15,350

65 or older (both)                               $16,850

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