MFJ vs MFS What If Worksheet: Are amounts shown Refunds or Owed?

[unclesam-1]

Found the below link/info after doing a google search. I'm a bit confused whether we will owe or will get a refund. See last sentence under #5 below. Looking for some clarification.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-filing-status/compare-married-filing...

How can I compare Married Filing Jointly with Married Filing Separately?

by TurboTax•

231•

Updated 3 months ago

If you're using TurboTax Desktop, try this:

1. Open your return and select Forms.
2. Select Open Form, enter What-If Worksheet (it may appear as What-If Wks), and select Open Form.
3. Select the MFJ vs. MFS box.
4. Scroll down to Balance Due (Refund) located under Line 72.
5. The second column shows the federal outcome for a joint return, and the third and fourth columns show the outcome for the taxpayer and spouse if filing separately.
   • Negative numbers are refunds and positive numbers are taxes due.

Following the instructions above, Using the What If Worksheet to see the difference between MFJ vs MFS I get the following:

MFJ -$4,332

MFS Me -$1,842

MFS Spouse -$484

Line 72 shows as Refund (Balance Due). I'm assuming these figures are owed amounts and not refunds because looking at it from a numbers POV, negative would usually mean owed whereas positive would usually mean refund. But again, if you look above under #5, it says: "Negative numbers are refunds and positive numbers are taxes due". I'm super confused right now.

Pretty much trying to see what the best filing status would be where we get a refund or owe the least amount. Thank you all.

[DMarkM1]

Yes, on the What if worksheet the negative numbers on line 72 are amounts owed.  Positive numbers would indicate a refund amount.