both married filing separately and legally separated, which selection to make?

[paulschettler1]

I can select married filing separately and legally separated, which selection should I enter?

[AnnetteB6]

Enter whichever applies to you.  That way TurboTax can give you the best advice about which filing status is right for you.

Legally separated is a marital status, like single or married.  Married filing separately is a filing status used on your tax return based partially on your marital status and other factors.

[Mike9241]

it may not matter. Legally separated would only be better if you qualify for head of household - you lived apart from your spouse during the last 6 months of 2024 and paid more than 1/2 the cost of keeping up a home for yourself and dependent child who lived with you for more than 6 months during the year.

if you did not live apart from your spouse for the last 6 months of 2024, then your filing status is either married  filing jointly or married filing separately.