Do you still file separately if you're filing for the first time as married? What if an income isn't entered?

[xmasbaby0]

If you were legally married at the end of 2024 your filing choices are married filing jointly or married 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 get the married filing jointly standard deduction of $29,200 (+ $1550 for each spouse 65 or older)  for 2024. 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, adoption credits, or deductions for student loan interest. A higher percent of your Social Security benefits may be taxable. Your limit for SALT (state and local taxes and sales tax) will be only $5000 per spouse. In many cases you will not be able to take the child and dependent care credit. The amount you can contribute to a retirement account will be affected. If you live in a community property state, you will be required to provide additional information regarding your spouse’s income. ( Community property states:  AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI)

 If  you are using online TurboTax to prepare your returns, you will need to prepare two separate returns and pay twice since with online, you get one return per fee.

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/marriage/should-you-and-your-spouse-file-taxes-jointly-or-separ...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/income/getting-married-mean-taxes/L2Rgma...

[xmasbaby0]

How to start a new joint return

You will not be able to merge two previous TT account to start your new joint return.  You can transfer ONE of your 2023 returns into a new return, so choose the most complicated one.  The other spouse’s information needs to be entered manually.  The first name you enter will be the “primary” taxpayer——and in subsequent years you need to keep the names in that order—do not try to change the order of the names.

When you enter the primary spouse’s information in My Info, you have to answer the question "Were you married?"  If you click the button for Married, then a drop down will appear that asks, "Do you want to file this return together with your spouse?"  Then you choose YES to file a joint return.  You enter your spouse's information into My Info.  Whenever you are entering income information there should then be a spot for you and for your spouse's income information.  WATCH for the names as you enter income on the screens.  Or when you click to add income it will prompt you to choose which spouse had the income.

When you prepare a joint return you include all the information for both spouses on the SAME tax return.  Include all of your personal information, all of your income from every source, all dependents (if any), all credits and deductions for both of you.  You get ONE refund with both names on it.

[KrisD15]

Once married, you have the choice of filing Married Filing Separately or filing Married Filing Jointly. 

USUALLY the most advantageous way to file is Married Filing Jointly because some credit become disallowed when a taxpayer files Married Filing Separately. 

Filing Married Filing Separately is usually done for a particular reason, such as one spouse not wanting to be responsible for the other spouses tax liability. 

Another issue is if you were married in a community property state, such as California. hen you are married and file in a community property state, there are rules as to how the income for you both must be divided and allocated to each return. 

HERE is a TurboTax link to help you decide

@jasonmoralez850