Newly Married

[RRamos]

I recently got married (Feb. 2023) and my wife's job allows her to make over $100,000 is sales commissions and bonuses.   My law enforcement annual salary is $95,000.  Should we file jointly or separately? What's our best options wit the salary difference? 

[BettieG]

Hi RRamos!  Congratulations on your marriage and thanks for your question!

It is almost always more beneficial to file your federal return as Married Filing Jointly, rather than Married Filing Separately, and this can be done in the year you got married, even if you hadn't gotten married until the last day of the year.

With regard to your state return, there are a few states that allow you to file Married Filing Separately on your state return, even though you file Married Filing Jointly on your federal return.  When you go to prepare your state return in TurboTax, it will offer you the option to file your state return as Married Filing Separately if your state permits it, and it is beneficial to you.

I hope this helps!