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Get your taxes done using TurboTax
As stated before, your options are to file as Married, Filing Separately ("separate") and Married, Filing Jointly ("joint").
Since she has a SSN and no income, Married, Filing Jointly is probably your best option.
Generally, filing jointly will give you a bigger refund or less taxes due. When you file separately, your tax rate is higher and you won't be able to claim:
- Education benefits
- Earned Income Credit (EIC)
- Child and Dependent Care Credit (usually)
- Adoption Credit (usually)
- The same benefit married filing jointly couples get for itemized deductions, the Child Tax Credit, and capital losses (all of these deductions are reduced by half)
- The standard deduction if your spouse is claiming itemized deductions
The following post gives you the steps to compare which filing status is better:
How can we compare married filing jointly with married filing separately?.
March 14, 2021
1:04 PM