@Newlifestarts120608 since you marital status will be married on 12/31/25, your only option is to file Married - Filing Joint or Married - FIling Separate.
These filing statuses do not indicate whether the married couple is living under the same roof or not. It's a matter if each wants to be liable for the others' tax obligations.
96% of married couples file joint. So in most all cases, it will be more beneficial for the two of you to file joint as the tax liability will be lower. Congress only passes tax laws that protect the sanctity of marriage. In other words, they incent filing Joint.
To me that last 4% are situations were there is a lack of trust and one doesn't trust the tax liabilties of the other; that would include those heading for divorce.
If you post your income and your spouse's income plus the ages of your children, I will show you what I mean.
if those survivor benefits are in the name of your children and use your children's SSN on the tax reporting from Social Security, it is NOT reported on your tax return. If the children have no other source of income, there is no tax and no reporting requirements for the survivorship benefits. DId you report that income on prior year tax returns? if so, why?
if you file Separate, you lose any tax credits you might otherwise be eligible for. AOTC and LLC tax credits are not permitted when filing SEPARATE. How much is the tuition? are there any scholarships that reduce the obligation to pay the tuition?
