Amended return had a small tax difference

[kartu]

We changed our filing status from single to married filing separately in the amendment. The person putting them together told us that there would be a 42$ difference that we would owe.

Why is that so? What would've caused the small difference?

[bluedeb · Accepted solution]

No one here would know that answer.  You can ask the person that prepared your return.  When you file as Married Filing Separately you are not able to claim some credits.  If you are legally married you cannot file as Single, the usually best filing for married is to file Jointly (both must agree).

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/married/help/is-it-better-for-a-married-couple-to-file-jointly-or-...

When you file separately, your tax rate is higher and you won't be able to claim:

• Education benefits
• Earned Income Credit (EIC)
• Child and Dependent Care Credit (usually)
• Adoption Credit (usually)
• The same benefit married filing jointly couples get for personal exemptions, itemized deductions, the Child Tax Credit, and capital losses (all of these deductions are reduced by half)
• The standard deduction if your spouse is claiming itemized deductions