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New Member
posted May 31, 2019 5:02:22 PM

Married Filing separately - enter both spouse's information?

Trying to see what situation works best for us

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1 Best answer
Level 15
May 31, 2019 5:02:31 PM

Yes, at the very least you will have to enter your spouse's name and Social Security number.  If you live in a community property state it gets more complicated.  Why are you 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 each receive the $4000 personal exemption, plus the married filing jointly standard deduction of $12,600 (add $1250 for each spouse over the age of 65).  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, or deductions for student loan interest. A higher percent of your Social Security benefits may be taxable.  In many cases you will not be able to take the child and dependent care credit.  If you live in a community property state, you will be required to provide additional information regarding your spouse’s income.  If you are using online TurboTax to prepare your returns, you will need to prepare two separate returns and pay twice.


16 Replies
New Member
May 31, 2019 5:02:25 PM

If you're filing separately you don't need to enter your spouse's info on your return

New Member
May 31, 2019 5:02:26 PM

No

New Member
May 31, 2019 5:02:27 PM

When i did this i never had to out her info in Cause we were married filling sepertaley she will have to do her own 1040ez form u guys will should get more back doing it this way

Level 15
May 31, 2019 5:02:28 PM

Incorrect

New Member
May 31, 2019 5:02:30 PM

If I'm married and it only let's me put married filing separate does my wife have too make her own turbo tax account and file a different return even though it let me add her w2 we got our state but not federal

Level 15
May 31, 2019 5:02:31 PM

Yes, at the very least you will have to enter your spouse's name and Social Security number.  If you live in a community property state it gets more complicated.  Why are you 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 each receive the $4000 personal exemption, plus the married filing jointly standard deduction of $12,600 (add $1250 for each spouse over the age of 65).  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, or deductions for student loan interest. A higher percent of your Social Security benefits may be taxable.  In many cases you will not be able to take the child and dependent care credit.  If you live in a community property state, you will be required to provide additional information regarding your spouse’s income.  If you are using online TurboTax to prepare your returns, you will need to prepare two separate returns and pay twice.


New Member
May 31, 2019 5:02:33 PM

No

Level 1
Jan 28, 2020 6:10:04 AM

is that true

Level 15
Jan 28, 2020 6:30:59 AM

@tereasiamaynor You added to an old thread.  Is what true?  

New Member
Mar 5, 2020 12:46:44 PM

Going through a divorce and want to file married, filing separate.  Do I have to enter his income or just mine?

 

Thanks.

New Member
Mar 5, 2020 12:48:39 PM

Going through a divorce in California and want to file married, filing separately, do I have to enter or use his income when I file or not?

 

Thanks.

Level 15
Mar 5, 2020 12:49:10 PM


@jpspel wrote:

Going through a divorce and want to file married, filing separate.  Do I have to enter his income or just mine?

 

Thanks.


See this TurboTax support FAQ for filing Married Filing Separately in a community property state - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/married/help/married-filing-separately-in-community-property-states/01/26030

Level 15
Mar 5, 2020 12:52:09 PM


@jpspel wrote:

Going through a divorce in California and want to file married, filing separately, do I have to enter or use his income when I file or not?

 

Thanks.


See this TurboTax support FAQ for filing Married Filing Separately in a community property state - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/married/help/married-filing-separately-in-community-property-state...

New Member
Apr 9, 2020 2:46:31 PM

Where within TurboTax can my wife find her VAGI (Virginia Adjusted Gross Income) ? We are filing separately and VA requires that info, but we can seem to find how to access the info in her almost completed return (State is done for her and she entered my VAGI to be able to complete it).

Level 1
Jun 10, 2020 4:33:26 PM

I'm Married filing separately because my husband is a non-resident alien living in another country and doesn't have SSN or ITIN. However, I'm having trouble because the form asks me for the SSN or ITIN anyway. What do you suggest?  

Level 15
Jun 10, 2020 4:34:15 PM


@Andrea14 wrote:

I'm Married filing separately because my husband is a non-resident alien living in another country and doesn't have SSN or ITIN. However, I'm having trouble because the form asks me for the SSN or ITIN anyway. What do you suggest?  


If you are a US citizen or US resident and your spouse does not have a Social Security number or an ITIN and you are not applying for an ITIN with the tax return then you can only file your tax return as Married Filing Separately.  Where asked to enter the spouse's Social Security number enter 999-88-9999.  You can only print and mail your tax return, it cannot be e-filed.  When you print the tax return erase the Social Security number for your spouse and manually enter NRA for non-resident alien.

See this TurboTax support FAQ for the procedure to print and mail a tax return using the online editions - https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1944348-how-do-i-print-and-mail-my-return-in-turbotax-online