topic Filing after getting married in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Filing after getting married

Joe1212 — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 04:14:06 GMT

Hello,

I started my tax return and just got married last year. My wife did not make any income last year, so from what I heard, we'd get a huge tax break filing jointly. After entering all of my information, I come to see that my tax return is half of what I would normally get when I was single. My income didn't increase to the point of going to a higher tax bracket. This is my first time filing in this manner, so are there things I should be double-checking?

Re: Filing after getting married

Bsch4477 — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 16:35:02 GMT

Compare your return with the previous one line by line.

Re: Filing after getting married

Mike9241 — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 16:41:30 GMT

make sure spouse's info was entered correctly and that the filing status is indicated as married filing jointly.

Re: Filing after getting married

VolvoGirl — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 16:44:54 GMT

Are you using your account and transferred from 2022? Did you add her name and ssn under My Info? What filing status did you pick? Go to My Info and under your name pick married and enter her name and ssn. Then pick you will file a Joint return. Married filing Separate is the worst way to file.

And a spouse is never a dependent. You file a JOINT return even if one spouse has little or no income.

Re: Filing after getting married

xmasbaby0 — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 16:48:04 GMT

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 $27,700 (+$1500 for each spouse 65 or older) 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.