Spouses ssn on my tax return

[dj203]

My husband and I are filing ‘married filing separate’. I put in his ssn along with his name because that what I thought you had to do. He got an email saying that that his ssn was being used in another tax return. Will this effect his and my return?

[xmasbaby0]

Your child's SSN can only be entered on one tax return.   Since you are filing separate returns, only one of you can enter the child on your return.   One of you has to remove the child.  Decide which one is claiming the child and which of you will not claim the child.   It sounds like you already claimed him----so if you need to remove the child you will have to amend after your return has been fully processed and your spouse will have to file by mail in order to claim the child.   Or you can leave it as is and your spouse can remove the child and e-file without the child on his return.

The other issue----why are you filing separate returns  -- usually the worst way to file -- especially when you have children?

If you were legally married at the end of 2024 your filing choices are married filing jointly or married filing separately.

Married Filing Jointly is usually better, even if one spouse had little or no income. When you file a joint return, you and your spouse will get the married filing jointly standard deduction of $29,200 (+ $1550 for each spouse 65 or older)  for 2024. You are eligible for more credits including education credits, earned income credit, child and dependent care credit, and a larger income limit to receive the child tax credit. 

If you choose to file married filing separately, both spouses have to file the same way—either you both itemize or you both use standard deduction. Your tax rate will be higher than on a joint return.

 Some of the special rules for filing separately include: you cannot get earned income credit, education credits, adoption credits, or deductions for student loan interest. A higher percent of your Social Security benefits may be taxable. Your limit for SALT (state and local taxes and sales tax) will be only $5000 per spouse. In many cases you will not be able to take the child and dependent care credit. The amount you can contribute to a retirement account will be affected. If you live in a community property state, you will be required to provide additional information regarding your spouse’s income. ( Community property states:  AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI)

 If  you are using online TurboTax to prepare your returns, you will need to prepare two separate returns and pay twice since with online, you get one return per fee.

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/marriage/should-you-and-your-spouse-file-taxes-jointly-or-separ...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/income/getting-married-mean-taxes/L2Rgma...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/taxation/married-filing-separately-commu...

[ThomasM125]

It would depend on why he got the email. It was correct to enter his name and social security number on your tax return, so if that is why he got the message it should not create a problem. The other possibility is that his number is showing up on a different return, which would be an entirely different situation.

[xmasbaby0]

Wait----were you talking about your spouse's SSN or the SSN of a child?   If you are filing married filing separately, you are supposed to enter your spouse's SSN.

If I am filing a separate return why do I have to list my spouse’s information on my return?

Even if you file separate returns (the worst way to file) you each have to list each other's SSN's and some other information on your own tax return.  The IRS can then cross check to make sure you are not "double dipping" for itemized deductions, dependents, etc.

If you are in a community property state, there is more information that will be needed.

Community property states:  AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901162-married-filing-separately-in-community-property-states

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/marriage/five-tax-tips-for-community-property-states/L4jG7cq7Z