Ohio Income tax joint filing credit

[1010072685]

Does a withdrawal from an IRA count as Ohio income for the purpose of qualifying for the Ohio joint filing credit?

[MaryK4]

Yes, retirement income does not count for the Ohio Joint Filing Credit.

To qualify for this credit, you must file a joint return on which you and your spouse each have at least $500 of qualifying income.
"Qualifying income" is any amount included in Ohio adjusted gross income, other than the following:

• Interest;
• Dividends and distributions;
• Capital gains; AND
• Rents and royalties.

[Edited 04/02/25| 8:54 am PST]

@1010072685

[Hal_Al · Accepted solution]

Q. Does a withdrawal from an IRA count as Ohio income for the purpose of qualifying for the Ohio joint filing credit (JFC)?

A. Yes. Retirement income is qualifying income for the JFC.  In fact, one "gimmick" for getting qualifying income, for the JFC, is to do a Roth IRA conversion. Your money stays invested in a tax free account and you get the JFC.

From the Ohio instructions:

To qualify for this credit, you and your spouse must each have at least $500 of qualifying income and jointly file your return. "Qualifying income" is any amount included in Ohio adjusted gross income, other than the following:
●Interest;
●Dividends and distributions;
●Capital gains; AND
●Rents and royalties

[1010072685]

Thank you. My computer sent my reply while I was still composing. Prior years included forms that allowed income from social security and IRAs as qualifying. Was there a legislative or rule change disqualifying those income sources? What happened to the work papers for this?

[Hal_Al]

Taxable retirement income (but not social security) has  been allowed as far back as I can remember. But, one thing that has changed was the addition of that clarification* in the instructions. 

Social security is not taxable in Ohio. So, it's not included in your Ohio adjusted gross income.

*To qualify for this credit, you and your spouse must each have at least $500 of qualifying income and jointly file your return. "Qualifying income" is any amount included in Ohio adjusted gross income, other than the following:
●Interest;
●Dividends and distributions;
●Capital gains; AND
●Rents and royalties