1. If my husband and I are separating, but we won`t be able to finalize everything this year. So, we still need to file as Married this year. Last few years we filed a joint tax returned. Can we file as married filed separately this year? -
Yes, you can file as Married Filing Separately, regardless if you filed jointly in the past. However, in most cases, if you both agree, you should file jointly in 2019 as in most cases it is the most beneficial way to file a tax return when legally married.
See this TurboTax support FAQ for filing jointly versus separately - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/married/help/is-it-better-for-a-married-couple-to-file-jointly-or-...
2. When you are divorced, do you need to reinstate prior-year tax returns that were filed jointly? If in the future I am asked to show my tax returns for the last 3 years, but I don`t have an individual tax return since I filed jointly how is it going to work?
No, you do not amend a prior year tax return to change your filing status due to a future divorce. If ever asked for your individual income from a prior year joint tax return, you should have copies of your W-2's and/or Form 1099's for your income.
