Errors on form 8889-S when Married Filing Separately

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
October 14, 2023
5 replies
15 views

I'm receiving an error on form 8889-S saying 'Line 3A5, Family should not be checked. You indicated on the Federal Information Wks that spouse could be claimed as a dependent of another, which makes spouse ineligible.'

I don't understand this error for a couple reasons (1) I didn't indicate my spouse could be claimed as a dependent of another. We're a family of 4 (husband, wife and 2 kids) and 'married filing separately'. I'm claiming one child as a dependent and my wife is claiming the other child as a dependent. Is the software confusing the child my wife is claiming as a dependent and saying I'm claiming 'spouse could be claimed as a dependent of another? (2) My spouse was never under my medical coverage (she has her own medical coverage through her employer). Only my kids and I were under my medical coverage, so why would the status of my wife make a difference here?

Do you have ideas on what how to resolve this?

NCperson

Level 15

@justin94067 would you mind explaining why you are filing SEPARATE? 96% of married couples file JOINT for a good reason: Congress motivates that behavior.

Unless this relates to the lower earning spouse being on a student loan repayment plan, i have NEVER seen a situation where this makes sense financially, even if one of you owes back taxes or back child support.

otherwise, go back to MyInfo - did you indicate your spouse could be a dependent of another? you had to list her name and SSN in any event - maybe a box in Myinfo is incorrect? check the childv in MyInfo, maybe you set up this relationship incorrectly?