topic Ok so I filed married filing separate just to get my taxes done but now I am not eligible for the third stimulus check what should I do? in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Ok so I filed married filing separate just to get my taxes done but now I am not eligible for the third stimulus check what should I do?

user1234579 — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 01:31:39 GMT

Re: Ok so I filed married filing separate just to get my taxes done but now I am not eligible for the third stimulus check what should I do?

macuser_22 — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 01:41:49 GMT

What do you mean "just to get your tax done? What does that have to do with filing seperartely?

If married, filing separately is the worst way to file, if you can file jointly.

Re: Ok so I filed married filing separate just to get my taxes done but now I am not eligible for the third stimulus check what should I do?

fanfare — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 01:44:38 GMT

why are you not eligible for EIP3 ?

Re: Ok so I filed married filing separate just to get my taxes done but now I am not eligible for...

npierson7 — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 01:52:09 GMT

Married filing separate filing status itself doesn't make you ineligible to received the 3rd stimulus. If your income below $80,000, you'll still receive that.

There is more information about that:

More details about the third round of Economic Impact Payments

Re: Ok so I filed married filing separate just to get my taxes done but now I am not eligible for the third stimulus check what should I do?

user1234579 — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 13:29:54 GMT

My wife’s taxes are taken from school loans so I figured I should file mine separately and not wait. But she hardly makes any money and I made over the 80. It’s the first year of being married so did not realize the impact of filing separate. If I file for a change will I get credited for stimulus? Is it bad to change status after you already received taxes?

Re: Ok so I filed married filing separate just to get my taxes done but now I am not eligible for the third stimulus check what should I do?

Hal_Al — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 13:58:36 GMT

Under covid rules, they are not taking refunds for student loans for 2019 or 2020. Even in regular years, there is an "injured spouse allocation" form to keep the IRS from taking your portion of the refund to satisfy your spouse's debt.

You need to file an amended return to change your status to Married Filing Jointly (MFJ), even though your spouse hasn't filed yet. Your amended MFJ will include her requirement to file.

We can't say, for sure, how your stimulus will be affected, but it will probably not be affected.

@npierson7 @macuser_22 @fanfare do you agree?

Re: Ok so I filed married filing separate just to get my taxes done but now I am not eligible for...

DMarkM1 — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 14:05:18 GMT

You can amend your return to change your filing status from Married Filing Separately to Married Filing Jointly. Initially, based on the already filed returns you will be ineligible for the third round of stimulus payments. The verbiage in the new law indicates if an amendment changes the eligibility status from ineligible to eligible the IRS will issue the payment, eventually.

The amendment forms are projected to be available in TurboTax around March 25. You should wait for your original return to be processed. Then sign in to your TurboTax account and select the "Amend" option. Follow the prompts to complete your amendments. You will need to print, sign and mail in the amended returns.

Married Filing Jointly will most likely have other benefits as well, like lower tax rates and eligibility for some credits and deductions. Here is a link with discussion on your filing status.

Here is a link to monitor for updates on the stimulus payments.