topic Before I file my taxes!! in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Before I file my taxes!!

zuwenac — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 15:04:18 GMT

If someone filed my husband(he has a disability), can I file head of household with my two children? Just married in October.

Re: Before I file my taxes!!

MinhT1 — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 15:07:34 GMT

As you are married, you cannot file Head of Household.

Your only options are Married filing Jointly or Married Filing Separately.

There are conditions to satisfy in order to file as Head of household. You must:

Pay for more than half of the household expenses
Be considered unmarried on the last day of the tax year, and
You must have a qualifying child or dependent.

Please read this TurboTax article for more information.

Re: Before I file my taxes!!

DoninGA — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 15:07:42 GMT

If you are legally married and living together, your only options for filing the tax return is either Married Filing Jointly or Married Filing Separately.

What do you mean someone filed my husband?

Re: Before I file my taxes!!

zuwenac — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 15:23:20 GMT

A family member of his filed him as a dependent

Re: Before I file my taxes!!

zuwenac — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 15:24:12 GMT

A family member of his filed him as a dependent

Re: Before I file my taxes!!

xmasbaby0 — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 15:25:29 GMT

What? What family member claimed your spouse as a dependent? And why? Does your spouse live with you? Did that family member support your spouse? Please provide some details----this sounds "off."

Re: Before I file my taxes!!

zuwenac — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 15:29:32 GMT

We don’t know why and a parent, no they didn’t support him, and yes he’s with me for more than half the year.

Re: Before I file my taxes!!

xmasbaby0 — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 15:34:30 GMT

Well----then maybe they just made a "mistake. " If his SSN has already been used on a tax return, your e-file is going to be rejected if you file a joint return and try to e-file it. But a joint return is usually the best way to file if you are married, especially when you have children. So prepare a joint return and file it by mail instead. His parents will have to amend their return and remove him as a dependent. You do not have to wait for them to amend to mail in your own tax return.

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.

How to start a new joint return

You will not be able to merge two previous TT account to start your new joint return. You can transfer ONE of your 2023 returns into a new return, so choose the most complicated one. The other spouse’s information needs to be entered manually. The first name you enter will be the “primary” taxpayer——and in subsequent years you need to keep the names in that order—do not try to change the order of the names.

When you enter the primary spouse’s 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 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. WATCH for the names as you enter income on the screens.

When you prepare a joint return you include all the information for both spouses on the SAME tax return. Include all of your personal information, all of your income from every source, all dependents (if any), all credits and deductions for both of you. You get ONE refund with both names on it.