What to do if I did my taxes but it didn’t tell me to add my spouse w2 and we are filing married jointly

When you file a joint return you have to add all of your combined income from both spouses.   If you set up your return correctly in My Info as a joint return, there would be spots with each spouse's name on every income entry screen.

Did you already e-file without your spouse's W-2?

Did you click that big orange button that said “Transmit my return now?”  If you did that, you cannot do anything to fix it yet.  You have to wait for the email that tells you if your return was accepted or rejected. The IRS will begin to accept/reject e-files on January 29, so your email will come on or after 1-29.

You cannot change or add anything on the return that you just e-filed, nor can you stop it.  It is too late, just like when you put an envelope in a US mailbox on the corner.  The IRS does not allow you to take it back.

If you left out a W-2, a 1099G, or a dependent, or a 1099 etc…DO NOT change your return while it is “pending.”  The changes will go nowhere.

Now you have to wait until the IRS either rejects or accepts your return.  If your return is rejected, you will be able to go into your account and make the necessary changes to your tax return and re-submit your return. 

 If the IRS accepts your return, however, then you have to wait longer until it has been fully processed and you have received your refund.  THEN you can prepare an amended tax return and e-file or mail  it in. You have to be able to work from that return exactly the way it was when it was e-filed originally.  You will need to use a form called a 1040X.

  Meanwhile, DO NOT go in and start changing anything on your return in the system, or you will make a mess for yourself.  Sit tight and wait until you see what the IRS does with the return you just e-filed

In every section of the TurboTax program for entering income there are options to tell the program who the form or income belongs to, by name.

Go back and click on Federal on the left side of the online program screen

Click on Wages & Income

On the W-2 that is listed, click on the Edit/Add button

On the next screen click on the button to Add a W-2 that has your spouse's name.