Just had a baby this year and I stopped working in April 2020, how do I add my baby to my tax return this year

[jocelynosorio238]

I did get married October 2019 and my husband could not add ny daughter or myself to his w2. My question is how do I add her?

[NCperson]

just follow the Turbo tax prompts and it will ask you about dependents.  Be sure to answer that the child lived with you ALL YEAR (there is a small note on how to respond for newborns because if you answer with a month less than 12 it is going to mess up)

You will also see the stimulus payments for this child on Line 30 of Form 1040 - it is the last step of the program. 

[VolvoGirl]

You should be filing a Joint return with your husband.  Did you file Joint for 2019?  A Joint return is one return combined for the both of you.  Just add her under My Info. Since she was born in 2020 you will say she lived with you the WHOLE YEAR.  Do not just enter the number of months.

[Mother238]

My husband and I did not file jointly

[NCperson]

why not? 96% of Americans that are married file that way - the laws motivate it....

[VolvoGirl]

And may I ask why you are filing separate returns? Sometimes people don't realize the differences between filing Joint and MFS.

Unless you have a specific reason to file separate returns,
It is usually better to file Joint. Joint has the lowest tax rates and the highest Standard Deduction. And if you are in a Community Property state MFS gets tricky to figure out. Here's some things to consider about filing separately……

In the first place you each have to file a separate return, so that's two returns. And if you are using the Online version that means using 2 accounts and paying the fees twice.

Many people think they come out better when filing Married Filing Separate but they are probably doing it wrong. If one person itemizes deductions then the other one must itemize too, even if it's less than the standard deduction, even if it is ZERO!

And there are several credits you can't take when filing separately, like the
EITC Earned Income Tax Credit
Child Care Credit
Educational Deductions and Credits

And contributions to IRA and ROTH IRA are limited when you file MFS.

Also if you file Married Filing Separately up to 85`% of your Social Security becomes taxable right away even with zero other income.

See …….
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/married/help/is-it-better-for-a-married-couple-to-file-jointly-or-...