Just Married!

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
November 16, 2022
1 reply
11 views

I got married this year back in MAY. I am still waiting for my social security card to come so that I can change my last name. My 1st question is even if I don't have those items should I add that information this year? My husband is behind in child support which leads me to my second question, when I do file married when should I submit this form?

Best answer by sdammons

Congratulations and Best Wishes on your new beginning!

To address your first concern, you always want to file your tax return with the name on your most recent social security card. While the IRS prefers that you get your SS Card updated first then file, you can always use your maiden name if you have not yet begun the process to make the name change with SSA.

As for your second concern, you will only have 2 options to choose from for your filing status: Married Filing Jointly or Married Filing Separately. The IRS considers your marital status to be whatever it is at the end of the year (12/31/22) as your marital status for the entire year. Although filing jointly tends to be most beneficial, you should determine what is best for your tax circumstance. See Filing Status for more information.

If filing jointly gives you the lower tax, you can still file together and request your portion of any refund by filing an Injured Spouse Allocation with your joint tax return. This will allow the IRS to determine the portion of any refund that you might be entitled to and distribute that amount to you while the portion that belongs to your spouse is offset to pay child support.

sdammonsAnswer

Level 2

Congratulations and Best Wishes on your new beginning!

To address your first concern, you always want to file your tax return with the name on your most recent social security card. While the IRS prefers that you get your SS Card updated first then file, you can always use your maiden name if you have not yet begun the process to make the name change with SSA.

As for your second concern, you will only have 2 options to choose from for your filing status: Married Filing Jointly or Married Filing Separately. The IRS considers your marital status to be whatever it is at the end of the year (12/31/22) as your marital status for the entire year. Although filing jointly tends to be most beneficial, you should determine what is best for your tax circumstance. See Filing Status for more information.

If filing jointly gives you the lower tax, you can still file together and request your portion of any refund by filing an Injured Spouse Allocation with your joint tax return. This will allow the IRS to determine the portion of any refund that you might be entitled to and distribute that amount to you while the portion that belongs to your spouse is offset to pay child support.

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