Married couple separate schedule C’s

[Kalani66]

We’re a married couple who both do courier jobs for the same company as independent contractors (separate 1099s). I think we file separate schedule C’s & SE’s but TurboTax says we’re a partnership (we’re not) and must file a Partnership return. When I try to create a separate schedule C, TT says it must have a different job description. Advice? Thx!

[ColeenD3]

Choose a different job description that is similar. One could be a courier and the other a delivery person.

[Opus 17]

Is it telling you that you must and won’t let you continue, or is it advising you?  Because this is not terribly good programming. It is actually perfectly acceptable for two spouses to operate the same business and file two separate schedule C’s instead of a partnership return. This is called a “qualified joint venture.”  It is only required that you file a partnership return if you formed an LLC with your spouse.

If the program is just advising you, you can ignore the advice. If the program will not let you continue, then try the experts advice on changing the description or the job code of the different jobs.