If we file as Married, Filing Jointly. can TurboTax tell me the proportion of tax owed by each of us?

[1lovehuck]

My spouse and I keep our money separate. While we file jointly, I would like to know if TurboTax can tell me how much of the total tax bill (based on a Joint return) is his and how much is mine.

[Bsch4477]

The calculation is complex. You could file separately to see what your individual tax liability would be. 

[1lovehuck]

Thank you for the quick reply. One follow-up.  Would I need to basically do my taxes 3 times (joint, for myself, for my spouse) or could I use the same data I entered and just change filing status?

[VolvoGirl]

No but there are ways you can figure it.  Like take the total income and get the percentage for each spouse.   Then multiple the tax on line 24 by the percents.  

[VolvoGirl · Accepted solution]

Yes you would need to do 3 separate returns.  That means 3 online accounts.  Do not use your real tax return account or you will mess it up.   I would just calculate the percent of income you each had and use that  to calculate each portion of tax or refund.   But you also need to figure in each withholding.

How to start another return in the Online version

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/how-do-i-start-another-return-in-turbotax-onli...

Or are you using the Desktop CD/Download program?   It can do unlimited returns and has a What If worksheet to compare them and many other advantages over the online version.  You can save your return with another name to test in.

[xmasbaby0]

No, when you file a joint return all of your income is combined and the refund is issued to the two of you in both names.   It is not broken down by which spouse deserved portions of the refund.    A joint return is not a "his" and "hers" tax return.   When you file married filing jointly the refund is "ours" to share.   

If you want to play around with the software and start multiple returns to see various scenarios it would be easier to do in the CD/download software.   Then you could prepare  several "joint" returns with only one spouse's income and see the differences in the refunds based on only one of you.

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...

[rjs]

If you prepare separate tax returns, the tax on the separate returns is not going to add up to the same amount of tax that's on the joint return. The total tax on the two separate returns will almost certainly be higher than the tax on the joint return. That's why you file jointly.

On a joint tax return everything is lumped together for the two of you. The tax is based on your total joint income, total deductions, and total credits. It's not calculated separately for each person. You are going to have to agree on a way to apportion the tax that you think is fair. You could do it in proportion to your incomes, as VolvoGirl suggested, or in proportion to the tax amounts on separate dummy returns, or any other way that the two of you can agree on.