Do i have to file my w2 when filing married joint

[ashcooper154]

i talked to a lady from turbo tax today and she told me i didnt have to file my w2. im fileing married joint and only want to do my husbands w2. can i do my w2 next year

[xmasbaby0]

Yes, if you are filing a joint return you have to enter all of your income for each of you.  You cannot wait and enter a 2015 W-2 on next year's 2016 tax return.

Every W-2 that you and your spouse received must be reported on your tax return, even if they are for small amounts.  Remember that each one of those W-2’s has your Social Security number on it, and that income was reported to the IRS by the employer.  You do not want to get in trouble with the IRS for under-reporting your income.

[LinaJ2018]

Yes.  You do have to file both of yours and spouse's 2015 W-2s on your Married Filing Jointly 2015 tax return.  Please be aware that IRS also receives a copy of both of yours' W-2s.  By not entering your W-2 will show an under-reporting of wages on your tax return.

[ashcooper154]

ok because the lady today made it seem like i can just file my w2 next year and this yr just do my husbands so we could get more back this year but be getting back less next yr bc of the extra w2. im new haha

[jws2586]

yes you both have too file 

[Sadijarvis]

Did you have to file yours? I only want to file mine and not my husbands. 

[xmasbaby0]

@Sadijarvis ALL of your combined income MUST be entered on a joint return if you file with your spouse -- unless you want a nasty letter from the IRS when they see that you did not report all of your income.

You can file separate returns, but you have to follow the rules:

If you were legally married at the end of 2019 your filing choices are married filing jointly or married filing separately.

Married Filing Jointly is usually better, even if one spouse had little or no income. When you file a joint return, you and your spouse will get the married filing jointly standard deduction of $24,400 (+$1300 for each spouse 65 or older)  You are eligible for more credits including education credits, earned income credit, child and dependent care credit, and a larger income limit to receive the child tax credit.

If you choose to file married filing separately, both spouses have to file the same way—either you both itemize or you both use standard deduction. Your tax rate will be higher than on a joint return. Some of the special rules for filing separately include: you cannot get earned income credit, education credits, adoption credits, or deductions for student loan interest. A higher percent of your Social Security benefits may be taxable. Your limit for SALT (state and local taxes and sales tax) will be only $5000 per spouse. In many cases you will not be able to take the child and dependent care credit. The amount you can contribute to a retirement account will be affected. If you live in a community property state, you will be required to provide additional information regarding your spouse’s income. ( Community property states:  AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI)

If  you are using online TurboTax to prepare your returns, you will need to prepare two separate returns and pay twice.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894449-married-filing-jointly-vs-married-filing-separately

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901162-married-filing-separately-in-community-property-states

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894449-is-it-better-for-a-married-couple-to-file-jointly-or-separ...

[Critter]

If you are legally married you either file a joint return and enter all income from both of you ... OR  file  Married Filing Separately ( not single) and only enter your income.   If you qualify you can file Head of Household instead. 

Married Filing Jointly is usually better, even if one spouse had little or no income. When you file a joint return, you and your spouse will get the married filing jointly standard deduction of $24,000 (+$1300 for each spouse 65 or older)  You are eligible for more credits including education credits, earned income credit, child and dependent care credit, and a larger income limit to receive the child tax credit.

If you choose to file married filing separately, both spouses have to file the same way—either you both itemize or you both use standard deduction. Your tax rate will be higher than on a joint return. Some of the special rules for filing separately include: you cannot get earned income credit, education credits, adoption credits, or deductions for student loan interest. A higher percent of your Social Security benefits may be taxable. Your limit for SALT (state and local taxes and sales tax) will be only $5000 per spouse. In many cases you will not be able to take the child and dependent care credit. The amount you can contribute to a retirement account will be affected. If you live in a community property state, you will be required to provide additional information regarding your spouse’s income. ( Community property states:  AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI) If  you are using online TurboTax to prepare your returns, you will need to prepare two separate returns and pay twice.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894449-married-filing-jointly-vs-married-filing-separately

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901162-married-filing-separately-in-community-property-states

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894449-is-it-better-for-a-married-couple-to-file-jointly-or-separ...

Even if you were legally married as of December 31, you are considered unmarried (and therefore eligible for Head of Household) if all 5 of these conditions apply:

1. You won't be filing jointly with your spouse; and
2. Your spouse didn't live in your home after June (temporary absences due to illness, school, vacation, business, or military service don't count); and
3. Your home was your child's, stepchild's, or foster child's main home for more than half the year (non-child dependents in your home don't qualify); and
4. You paid more than half the costs of keeping up your home during the tax year; and
5. You meet the qualifications to claim the child as your dependent, even if the other (noncustodial) parent is actually claiming the child as a dependent on their return.

You can also be considered unmarried for Head of Household if your spouse was a nonresident alien at any time during the tax year and you're not treating them as a resident alien.

Related Information:

• Do I qualify for Head of Household?
• Is it better for a married couple to file jointly or separately?