topic First year filing jointly, how do I enter my wife's tax information from the previous year? in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

First year filing jointly, how do I enter my wife's tax information from the previous year?

MrMalredo — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:13:07 GMT

My wife and I are filing our 2022 jointly for the first time. Last year, we filed married, but filing separate. With regards to income, it only incorporates my 2021 income, as we filed separately last time and it's my account we're doing taxes on. Is there anyway to also take into account my spouse's income from 2021?

Re: First year filing jointly, how do I enter my wife's tax information from the previous year?

xmasbaby0 — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 20:08:05 GMT

To begin a new joint return on TurboTax:

You will not be able to merge two previous TT account to start your new joint return. You can transfer ONE of your 2020 returns into a new return, so choose the most complicated one. The other spouse’s information needs to be entered manually.

When you enter your own information in My Info, you have to answer the question "Were you married?" If you click the button for Married, then a drop down will appear that asks, "Do you want to file this return together with your spouse?" Then you choose yes to file a joint return. You would then enter your spouse's information into My Info. Whenever you are entering income information there should then be a spot for you and for your spouse's income information. Income screens will have spots with each spouse’s name—be careful to enter under the correct names.

Re: First year filing jointly, how do I enter my wife's tax information from the previous year?

MrMalredo — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 20:12:59 GMT

Nowhere does it give me the option to enter my wife's 2021 tax information. I've tried that several times already.

Re: First year filing jointly, how do I enter my wife's tax information from the previous year?

xmasbaby0 — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 20:16:01 GMT

@MrMalredo Not sure what 2021 information you want to enter for your spouse. If you started the 2022 joint return using your own account then you have to add anything pertaining to your spouse by hand, starting with her name, SSN, etc. You cannot transfer any 2021 data in from her old return.

Re: First year filing jointly, how do I enter my wife's tax information from the previous year?

MrMalredo — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 20:17:47 GMT

Yes, I understand that. I need to know how to manually enter her tax information from her 2021 return. I am not given any option to do that.

Re: First year filing jointly, how do I enter my wife's tax information from the previous year?

xmasbaby0 — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 20:22:44 GMT

Again----what exactly are you trying to enter from 2021? If have set up your 2022 return correctly as a joint return, every income screen is going to have each of your names on it so that your 2022 W-2 can be entered under your name, her 2022 W-2 can be entered under her name, etc. What 2021 information are you trying to put in?

Re: First year filing jointly, how do I enter my wife's tax information from the previous year?

MrMalredo — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 20:34:23 GMT

Her 2021 W2s. Maybe I'm not understanding this, but on Turbo Tax, it lists both 2021 income and 2022 income. The 2022 income is slightly more then the 2021 income, but the 2022 income contains both me and my wife's W-2s and the 2021 only includes mine. In reality, if my wife's 2021 income is counted, then our income has gone down significantly in 2022 compared to 2021, instead of being slightly more then 2021.

Re: First year filing jointly, how do I enter my wife's tax information from the previous year?

xmasbaby0 — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 20:39:57 GMT

Well....you cannot put in your wife's 2021 W-2's. Again.....only her 2022 information can be entered on your new 2022 joint return. You used your account so only your own 2021 W-2's are going to show up on the comparison screen.

Re: First year filing jointly, how do I enter my wife's tax information from the previous year?

MrMalredo — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 20:50:30 GMT

How does this effect my refund? The comparison shows that we made about $200 more in 2022 when in reality we actually made several thousands of dollars (Probably at least $10 grand) less in 2022. Are my wife's previous year income just not taken into account when we file jointly for the first time?

Re: First year filing jointly, how do I enter my wife's tax information from the previous year?

xmasbaby0 — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 20:56:21 GMT

Your wife's 2021 W-2 income has no effect whatsoever on your 2022 income. Each tax year is separate. What matters for 2022 is how much your combined 2022 income was. Your 2022 refund or tax due is calculated only on your 2022 income.

Re: First year filing jointly, how do I enter my wife's tax information from the previous year?

VolvoGirl — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 20:58:56 GMT

No you don't need any of her 2021 income. That is only for your own use to compare. Unless she has any carryover items like a Capital Loss Carryover. Anything Turbo Tax needs from 2021 it will ask you to enter it manually. When you file you will need to enter her 2021 AGI just to verify her.

Re: First year filing jointly, how do I enter my wife's tax information from the previous year?

Foxmwf — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 22:37:51 GMT

I have a similar situation, except that in 2021 we were single and both filed TurboTax Returns individually. In 2022 we got married. I need to make sure that I have carried over the Net short-term capital loss that my spouse had on her 2021 return, (Schedule D, line 7) but not seeing where I am asked about it on the joint 2022 return.

Re: First year filing jointly, how do I enter my wife's tax information from the previous year?

TeresaM — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 22:51:34 GMT

To manually enter the capital loss carryover from the other return last year, you will open the Wages and Income section.

Scroll down to Investments and Savings and click on Show More
Click on Start or Revisit for Capital Loss Carryover

@Foxmwf