Last year I filed as married filing jointly. This year I need to file married filing single. Can I use TurboTax account from previous year and change filing status?

[DanP0428]

You will most likely cause yourself a lot of problems by trying to do that,  TurboTax has a primary taxpayer and spouse and will not be happy if one of them is not on the return.  Far less hassle to start a new account for married filing separately.  It is not married filing single.  If you are legally married you cannot file as single.

[DawnC · Accepted solution]

You mean Married Filing Separately (MFS)?  or Head of Household?   There is no Married filing single filing status.   But yes, you can use last year's TurboTax account and change your filing status to whatever filing status you qualify for this year.    If you were the spouse on the previous year's return, you will need to make yourself the primary taxpayer instead on this year's return.  

[Usafxxx1]

I apologize and I meant changing status from married filing Joint to married filing separate. I am still married and would like tax return for 2021 separate. It’s my understanding I need to create a new TurboTax account to file under new status. 

[VolvoGirl · Accepted solution]

Depends if you were listed as the primary or the spouse last year.  But it would be best to make a new account for yourself.

Online is only good for 1 return per account.  But you can use the same email address for 5 accounts.   How to start another return in the Online version

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/how-do-i-start-another-return-in-turbotax-onli...

[Usafxxx1]

Yes I meant MFS. I logged into my existing account that I used to file Married Filing Joint last year and was unable to have it change my status to MFS for this year. I wonder if need to create a new account. 

[DawnC]

Were you the spouse or the primary taxpayer last year?     If you were the primary, use the same account and just tell TurboTax you don't want to file with your spouse and it will change your filing status to MFS.    If you were the spouse, you can either create a new account or you can make yourself the primary taxpayer on the same account you used last year.    Depending on what forms transfer in to this year's returns, one option will be easier than the other.      

I went through your situation about 4 years ago and I opted to use the same account.    I went through the tax return and changed all of the ''spouse'' forms to ''taxpayer'' and I deleted all my spouse's (taxpayer) forms.   Once I did that, I deleted the spouse info and updated the primary taxpayer to reflect my information.     Then all of my income forms were there.   But you can certainly create a new account.   That may be an easier option....

You said it would not let you change your filing status - you can't change your filing status in TurboTax - you need to click on your marital status.   Choose Married, then TurboTax will ask if you wan to file with your spouse - Say NO, and your filing status will change to MFS.

[Usafxxx1]

This is very helpful and thank you. I was the primary tax filer last year. This year wife prefers that we file separately and we are still married. It’s good to know that I can create a new account to file MFS and feel that be easier than attempting to change information on the existing account. 

[VolvoGirl]

FYI - Sometimes people don't realize the differences between filing  Joint and MFS.

Unless you have a specific reason to file separate returns,

It is usually better to file Joint. Joint has the lowest tax rates and the highest Standard Deduction.   And if you are in a Community Property state MFS gets tricky to figure out.  Here's some things to consider about filing separately……

In the first place you each have to file a separate return, so that's two returns.  And if you are using the Online version that means using 2 accounts and paying the fees twice.  

Many people think they come out better when filing Married Filing Separate but they are probably doing it 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!  (Business expenses are not itemized deductions.  Business goes on Schedule C not A.)

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.

Also if you file Married Filing Separately up to 85`% of your Social Security becomes taxable right away even with zero other income.

See …….

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/married/help/is-it-better-for-a-married-couple-to-file-jointly-or-...

[Mike9241]

you have to be careful of certain carryovers. you can not use those that are attributable to your spouse.