@TaxG6 - I didn't put it in the original post because it's an indirect function of taxes; the ONLY way I've a benefit of filing Separate relates to repayment of Student debt where the lower earning spouse is on a income based repayment plan and being able to report a lower income gets the payments reduced.
So filing Separate should create higher taxes, but the student loan payment reduction off sets that.
suggest you have someone else check your MFS vs. MFJ calcuations and how you input the information. It would be unlikley that MFS is better, esp. if the spouse's incomes are far apart. Remember, both must report the standard deduction or both must itemize; one can't take standard while the other itemizes.
Suggest rerunning your assumptions through this calculator which is set up for 2023.
https://www.dinkytown.net/java/1040-tax-calculator.html
