First time filer - paycheck appears as Single while I'm married

[Yenalga]

Hello,

One more question that I forgot to ask:-

I am married with two kids. On my Employee's Withholding Certificate, I chose "Single or Married filing separately" as this is the only option that allowed me to choose Married filing separately. My husband was not working at that time, and I didn't know that someone who doesn't have income needs to file.

However, on my paycheck , my filling status appears as Single. Can I still file as Married jointly? I am a bit confused; please advise. Thank you so much!

[xmasbaby0]

The filing status shown on your W-4 for the employer or on your W-2 does not dictate how you file your tax return.   Your W-4 is only for your employer to tell them how much tax to withhold from your paychecks.    They might have also indicated that on your W-2 paperwork, but it does not affect how you file your return.

You can file a joint tax return even if one spouse had little or even no income.   Joint is usually better than filing separate returns.

If you were legally married at the end of 2021 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 $25,100 (+$1350 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...

[AnnetteB6 · Accepted solution]

Yes, you can still file jointly with your spouse.  

It does not matter that your paycheck is showing Single.  That is only used to determine the amount of taxes that are withheld from your paychecks, not the filing status that you must use when filing your tax return.

[MonaRoshdi]

Hi , I have a question about filling paycheck  form to withdraw tax. Me and my husband both employed with the same range salary,and by filling paychecks as married filing jointly, we needed to pay extra $13k at end of year. Should we fill the form as married filing separately or single? And in this way are we eligible to file tax with married filing jointly at the end?

Thanks,

Mona

[xmasbaby0]

@MonaRoshdi The W-4 you give to your employers tells the employer how much tax to withhold from your paycheck.  That does not dictate how you file your tax returns.  The IRS never even sees your W-4.   If you are legally married, then your filing choices are to file married filing jointly or married filing separately.  Filing Single is not an option,  no matter what you put on your W-4 at work.

If you need to re-do your W-4's to change your withholding at work:

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf

If you were legally married at the end of 2022 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 $25,900 (+$1400 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...

[MonaRoshdi]

Thank you very much for the reply. We definitely want to file married filing jointly with IRS as for 2023 we have also a new born baby as well. Just want to see on W4 form for paycheck withdrawals it is better to put married filing singe or single? We don’t want to be charged at the end .

Also one more question, my parents came here as visitors and stay with us for 6 months from abroad. Is there any tax reduction that we can claim as they live with us and we need to cover all their expenses?

Thanks,

Mona

[xmasbaby0]

Unless your parents have a SSN or ITIN, you cannot claim any sort of deduction or credit for hosting them in the U.S.   That is simply a personal expense.

There is no such thing as "married filing single."     Again----your choices will be married filing jointly or married filing separately.  If you have a child---file a joint return or you may lose child-related credits.

[VolvoGirl]

@MonaRoshdi   I'm  married but always claimed Single 0 at work to have more taken out.  What you claim at work doesn't have to match your actual filing status on your tax return.  You can even have an extra amount added to your withholding like $10.  

[MonaRoshdi]

Thank you for the reply!

[MonaRoshdi]

Great! That was my concern, Thank you for the reply🙏🏻