No. There is no workaround for the tax laws. If they file married filing separately, they are subject to the rules for that filing status. If one spouse itemizes, the other must also itemize. Or if one uses standard deduction the other uses standard deduction. There is not a workaround that allows one of of each. So....sorry----that is one of the pitfalls of filing MFS. One spouse might take most or all of the itemized deductions, leaving the other spouse with no deductions to use, and with the prospect of having all of their income taxed.
The only time there is some difference in this is if one of the spouses has had the children for at least six months and can file as Head of Household. Do they have children? Who has custody of the children?
**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
