topic got married in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

got married

wrxcham — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 04:39:18 GMT

i got married end of october last year.

after we got married, my wife did not work.

but she was working before we got married.

her dad said he will file the tax for her like they been doing that for long time.

now, what should i do? do i tell it i got married but she did not work last year?

Re: got married

Mike9241 — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 06:34:56 GMT

you and your spouse can file a joint return if you were married in 12/31/2023. both must agree to this. if you do a joint return you include her income for the entire year not just since you married. If Dad files a return for her before you file a joint return, you will not be able to e-file.

if you both agree to file jointly, she needs to tell her dad not to file for her. if he already has filed for her

since her return has already been filed, you will need to amend her return to married filing jointly and then add your information to her return. The 1040X for amending 2023 returns will not be available until mid-February. There are instructions on how to amend your return from MFS to MFJ. You should not try to amend her return until it has been fully processed and you have received the refund or her payment has cleared.

Amended returns for 2023 may be -e-filed. be sure to take into account on the amended return the actual refund or payment. If you are due a larger refund than on your original return, your amended return should only show the difference and you will receive a separate check for it. If you owe money on your amended return, it will show only the new amount owed, you will have to mail a check with the return.

Re: got married

rkinquist — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 06:41:51 GMT

See if your father-in-law to not file her taxes. It is better that you file Married Filing Jointly with your new wife on the joint return. If father-in-law files her taxes only, you and him will have to file the tax returns Married filing Separately - this wouldn't be the best way to file your tax returns. Unless father-in-law is filing for the both of you then you can still file Married Filing Jointly on that return. Also, you might want to find out why he wants to file her tax return. Her income has to be filed on one return, doesn't matter if she didn't work after you got married, her return needs to be filed with all her income. If father-in-law files her return, you can't put her on your return at all.