DanielV01
Expert Alumni

Get your taxes done using TurboTax

One by one answers to your questions:

1.)  Can you claim her as a dependent?  You can file Married Filing Joint.  When you file a joint return she is not your dependent but rather a co-declarer.  This is better:  you get an additional standard deduction, her exemption, and a lower overall tax bracket.  This is a better filing status than filing as Married Filing Separately.

2.)  Do I need to file her tax returns also?  It depends.  Her tax return is your tax return if you are filing Married Filing Joint.  I recommend you contact her employer to obtain her W-2 to remove all doubt.

3.) Is there any minimum number of work hours? No.  Even if the pay was $30 or $40, they will still provide a W-2.  That's different from 1099-MISC forms, which do not have to be sent if the amount is under $600.

4.)  Do I need to claim my ST disability?  Maybe.  At times it is taxable and at times it is not.  If it is taxable, you will receive a separate document.  You might want to contact your employer about whether or not your disability payments were taxable.  (General rule:  if you paid for the premiums with after-tax funds, st disability payments are not taxable.  However, if the employer pays for it, they will be taxable.  But you will generally receive a w-2 for it when this is the case.)

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