Changing filing status and amending 2021: What happens to the amount already paid in that prior year?

[lsamson]

In 2021, I filed Married/Jointly and we owed around $2,000, which I paid.  I just looked at amending 2021 and filing Married/Separately.  That shows my wife owing $600 and a refund due me of $1,000.  QUESTION:  When I send the amended returns, how is the $2,000 I paid originally accounted for?  That is, if I pay the $600 under my wife's name with the amended return, will the IRS refund the $2K I paid for 2021, plus the $1K owed under my amended return?  OR is that $2K paid for 2021 already somehow figured into the TurboTax program?   ... or something else?

[DoninGA]

You cannot change from Married Filing Jointly to Married Filing Separately after the due date of the 2021 tax return, April 18, 2022.

[xmasbaby0]

Forget it.  You are not allowed to amend from a joint return to married filing separately after the filing deadline for the tax year.  You cannot change to separate returns now.  Sorry.

[VolvoGirl · Accepted solution]

Sorry you can't change from Joint to MFS after the due date.  Joint is usually better.  It's common to do the separate returns wrong.

If one person itemizes deductions on Schedule A then the other one must itemize too, even if it's less than the standard deduction, even if it is ZERO!  And if you are in a Community Property state it can be complicated to figure out.

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.

[lsamson]

Many thanks for a quick reply!!

[lsamson]

Thanks!!