You do tax consulting?

[gilbert0127]

I may or may not get married.  My proposed spouse is self-employed.  I am employed though we are both at-home workers in the same house.  Our combined income would be over 300K, 125 of it mine.  From the tax perspective should we get married or stay single and get a SO affidavit for insurance coverage through my company?

[SweetieJean]

Significant Others do not get to file a Joint tax return.

[gilbert0127]

If I stay single why would I even consider filing jointly?  What I'm asking is, where is less tax being paid: as single individuals (not married) or filing jointly as married given our incomes.  Of course the other option which would likely be the highest pay, would be married filing single.

[gilbert0127]

Thanks.  Gotta love Texas!  But TT is all about taxes.

[SweetieJean]

It's Married Filing Separately, not Married Filing Single. And Texas is a Community Property State.

[VolvoGirl · Accepted solution]

If you are doing 2 returns (one for each of you) you would probably benefit by using the Desktop CD/Download program instead of the Online version.  The Desktop program can do unlimited returns.  It has a What-If worksheet  and several other advantages over the online version.  You could do test returns.  You could do 3 returns, 2 as Single and 1 as Joint to see.  You can see and enter into the actual forms.  You would get 5 free efiles or print and mail for free.

Check them out!
https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/cd-download/

Oh, and you can transfer from the prior year online version.  And/or Move your online return to the Desktop pogram.  So be sure to save your tax returns as the .tax2016 files to your computer from online before Online shuts down in mid October.  Then you will have it to transfer into next year.

How to save the .tax2016 file,
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899645-how-do-i-save-my-2016-turbotax-online-return-as-a-tax-data...

[VolvoGirl]

If you paid for the Online version you can ask support to put the Desktop program in your account.  And then download  your current .tax2016 files (both of you) to open in the program.  Contact Customer Service
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/5566005">https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/5566005</a>

First download the .tax2016 file from the Online version,  
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899645-how-do-i-save-my-2016-turbotax-online-return-as-a-tax-data...

Then see, How to Switch to Desktop,
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901476-how-do-i-switch-from-turbotax-online-to-the-turbotax-softw...>

[SweetieJean]

TT is a computer program, not a CPA firm.

Try this tool, but keep in mind that Congress may make Federal tax law changes this year.

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/calculators/taxcaster/

Also remember State taxes.