topic Going from single to married in tt in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Going from single to married in tt

iltm — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 21:29:08 GMT

We both filed Single for 2024 tax year. Got married so we will file married filing jointly. What is the best way to proceed? Do we create a new tt account or do we file under one of our accounts from last year and manually enter the other?

Re: Going from single to married in tt

xmasbaby0 — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 21:40:56 GMT

You will not be able to merge two previous TT account to start your new joint return. You can transfer ONE of your 2024 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. Or when you click to add income it will prompt you to choose which spouse had the income.

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.

Re: Going from single to married in tt

VolvoGirl — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 00:28:49 GMT

Here's a couple FAQs....

Getting Married FAQ
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-filing-status/help/what-does-getting-married-mean-for-my-taxes/00/1756642

Tax info on getting married
https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/marriage/getting-married/L0DvEUlEC

Re: Going from single to married in tt

SteamTrain — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 13:52:42 GMT

Also note....as implied previously but need to stress:

1) Whichever person's prior year file you choose to use...that person will be the primary taxpayer on the new MFJ tax return and must remain so. (Unless you start a new account with no transfer in of a datafile from 2024). If you attempt t change the order of Taxpayer and Spouse afterwards, you may find that some off the forms you enter like W-2 or 1099-R forms...they may get assigned to the wrong person because the switch of Taxpayer/Spouse doesn't get properly reassigned for every form.

2) For the old account(s) you may not be using anymore, make sure you download a PDF file of every year that is available in that old account now while you still have access. Every succeeding year, one PDF file gets eliminated form everyone's account ~7years back, and one of you may need future access to one of those older tax files. Back those PDF files up on an off-computer device too, like a USB flash drive since computers/disks crash unexpectedly at any time.

Re: Going from single to married in tt

iltm — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 17:55:13 GMT

Steam Train, Where do I enter my 2024 info manually since I am using husband's 2024 file. He will be the primary so all of his info populates. Where and can I do that now or do I have to wait?

Re: Going from single to married in tt

VolvoGirl — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 17:58:54 GMT

You just enter any 2024 info it needs as you fill out the 2025 return. Go to My Info and under his name change it to Married from Single. Then it will open up so you can enter your name and personal info.

Re: Going from single to married in tt

iltm — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:45:56 GMT

I've an additional question regarding how/where to manually enter my 2024 info since I'm using my husbands 2024 account so his is populated from prior year...would you be willing to assist or should I post it?

Re: Going from single to married in tt

xmasbaby0 — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 20:53:05 GMT

@iltm Your spouse's account will bring up his information. He (or you if you are the one at the keyboard) needs to go to MY INFO and click his name. In MY INFO the interview questions will ask if he was married in 2025 and he needs to say YES. After that it will ask if he wants to file together with his spouse and he needs to choose YES. Then there will be prompts to enter your information.