Joint Income

marinchip · ‎March 12, 2025

We file separately but have joint income for which we receive 1099s that report the same interest and dividend income for each of us.

We wish to each report half of the total in our individual TurboTax filings. Will the IRS recognize the action taken without some supporting explanation since the numbers reported will not agree with the 1099s?

Will splitting the income in disagreement with the 1099s cause electronic filing to fail?

MarilynG1

No, if you are filing separately, and have 1099's in both names, it is proper to each report half of the amount on your separate returns (or actually any split you both agree to).

Since on your MFS return, you give the SSN of your spouse, the IRS can see that the amounts reported on both returns add up to what is reported on the 1099.

If you're using TurboTax Desktop and care to use a 'What If' scenario to see what your returns look like MFJ vs. MFS, in FORMS mode, choose 'Open Form' and type in What-If.

@marinchip

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