topic Married Filing Separately - Std Deduction in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Married Filing Separately - Std Deduction

J2-J4 — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 06:08:52 GMT

I'm married filing separately. Using a standard deduction is financially favorably for me. I have read that if one person itemizes deductions, the other spouse can't use standard deduction. Because we are currently going through a divorce, I don't communicate with my spouse so I don't know what my spouse is doing. Do you know how it is determined? If I file first, does that determine what the spouse is required to do?

Re: Married Filing Separately - Std Deduction

rjs — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 15:54:53 GMT

It doesn't matter who files first. If one spouse itemizes, the other cannot use the standard deduction. (Technically the other spouse's standard deduction is zero.)

Ask your lawyer to communicate with your spouse's lawyer to find out if your spouse wants to itemize.

Re: Married Filing Separately - Std Deduction

Critter-3 — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 18:04:44 GMT

If you cannot get a straight answer from the soon to be ex then file using the method best for you and if the other spouse itemizes the IRS will notify you later.