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Nelstorm9
Returning Member

Montana itemized deductions

We are filling Married Filling Separately on the some form.

Somehow I got our medical and dental expenses under Spouse and cannot find a way to get them back to my return.  

 

Help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks, Bert

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5 Replies

Montana itemized deductions

Please explain "filing married filing separately on the same form."  That is not possible.  If you are filing as married filing separately you have to prepare two federal returns--one for each of you.   You cannot file on the same Form 1040.   You need to clear out everything for one of you on that form--or maybe just start over.

 

When you file married filing separately, you each have your own tax form.   The only thing you will enter about your spouse is that you were married in 2023, and then when it asks if you want to file together with your spouse---your answers must be NO.   You will only enter your spouse's name and SSN.    Your spouse will do that same thing on their own return.   Then---if you are itemizing deductions, decide between the two of you who takes what deductions such as mortgage interest, etc.   If you are itemizing , you both have to itemize.   Or you both have to use standard deduction--it cannot be "one of each."

 

If you were legally married at the end of 2023 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 $27,900 (+$1500 for each spouse 65 or older)  for 2023. 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. 

 

If you choose to file married filing separately, both spouses have to file the same way—either you both itemize or you both use standard deduction. Your tax rate will be higher than on a joint return.

 

 Some of the special rules for filing separately include: you cannot get earned income credit, education credits, adoption credits, or deductions for student loan interest. A higher percent of your Social Security benefits may be taxable. Your limit for SALT (state and local taxes and sales tax) will be only $5000 per spouse. In many cases you will not be able to take the child and dependent care credit. The amount you can contribute to a retirement account will be affected. If you live in a community property state, you will be required to provide additional information regarding your spouse’s income. ( Community property states:  AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI)

 

 If  you are using online TurboTax to prepare your returns, you will need to prepare two separate returns and pay twice since with online, you get one return per fee.

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894449-married-filing-jointly-vs-married-filing-separately

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901162-married-filing-separately-in-community-property-states

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894449-is-it-better-for-a-married-couple-to-file-jointly-or-separ...

 

 

 

If I am filing a separate return why do I have to list my spouse’s information on my return?

Even if you file separate returns (the worst way to file) you each have to list each other's SSN's and some other information on your own tax return.  The IRS can then cross check to make sure you are not "double dipping" for itemized deductions, dependents, etc.

 

If you are in a community property state, there is more information that will be needed.

Community property states:  AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901162-married-filing-separately-in-community-property-states

 

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/marriage/five-tax-tips-for-community-property-states/L4jG7cq7Z

 

 

 

And....it is too late to e-file a 2023 return.  Your returns must be filed by mail now.

 

 

When you mail a tax return, you need to attach any documents showing tax withheld, such as your W-2’s or any 1099’s.  Use a mailing service that will track it, such as UPS or certified mail so you will know the IRS/state received the return.

 

Federal and state returns must be in separate envelopes and they are mailed to different addresses.  Read the mailing instructions that print with your tax return carefully so you mail them to the right addresses.

 

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

Montana itemized deductions

@xmasbaby0    Be careful about that general statement:


@xmasbaby0 wrote:

Please explain "filing married filing separately on the same form."  That is not possible.  If you are filing as married filing separately you have to prepare two federal returns--one for each of you.   You cannot file on the same Form 1040.   You need to clear out everything for one of you on that form--or maybe

just start over.

...................etc


________________________

That's too generic, and apparently does not apply to MT. 

 

Iowa also lets people file MFJ Federal and then MFS on the same State form, with two separate columns for each of the spouses on the state form.   At least for Iowa, the TTX software handles it ....though I haven't worked with IA software since 2018.     There "might" be a few other states that allow it too......but I have no idea how the TTX software handles MT or any other states that "might" allow the same option.  (Nope, I don't know or have MT, but looking at the MT Form 2, there are two columns on the same standard form, where each spouse uses one column when filing this way).

 

I suspect, but can't know, that their Medical expenses would have to be divided up somehow during the MT interview...but software varies so widely, I can't know for sure.

____________*Answers are correct to the best of my knowledge when posted, but should not be considered to be legal or official tax advice.*

Montana itemized deductions

2023 MT Instructions for doing so are on page 5 of the MT form 2:

"Montana law does not require you to claim the same filing status that you claimed on your Federal tax return.  For example, if you are married and you filed your Federal tax return jointly, you and your spouse have the option to file your Montana tax return either jointly or separately."

 

But they also indicate that will go away for 2024 taxes, and require taxpayers to file using the same status as on their Federal tax return.

 

 

____________*Answers are correct to the best of my knowledge when posted, but should not be considered to be legal or official tax advice.*

Montana itemized deductions

@SteamTrain Thanks----I must have missed the Montana reference---assumed the user was preparing federal.   Always thankful for you!

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

Montana itemized deductions

Went back and checked what IA was doing recently.

 

Looks Like IA allowed MFS on the same IA form for 2022 taxes, but looks like that was eliminated for 2023 (and I assume future years).

 

Either people are doing too many strange things, or too many unintended errors in the two-column allocations, or perhaps the state(s) were just having too many difficulties in figuring out if the taxpayers were doing it wrong.

____________*Answers are correct to the best of my knowledge when posted, but should not be considered to be legal or official tax advice.*
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