Why has TT told my husband filing separately that his standard deduction for 2022 would be 0?

[lizlilliott]

I also started as itemizing but the standard deduction would be better so I originally completed his form as itemized and I can't change it

[DoninGA]

Since you are filing as Married Filing Separately and you are using Itemized Deductions then you spouse Must also use Itemized Deductions on his tax return.

[VolvoGirl]

May I ask why you are filing separate returns?  Sometimes people don't realize the differences between filing  Joint and MFS.

 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!  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.

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-...

[NCperson]

@lizlilliott 96% of married couples file "Joint" - because Congress passes tax laws that incent that behavior.  

Unless this involves student loan debt repayment, I have yet to see a situation where filing Separate makes FINANACIAL sense.

That last 4% - married couples that can't agree - for whatever reason - to both sign the tax return.   

if your spouse owes back taxes or child support, best to file Joint and file Injured Spouse (form 8379) to protect YOUR refund from garnishment. 

[Opus 17]

When spouses file separately, if one spouse itemizes, the other spouse must itemize, even if they don't want to (their standard deduction is--correctly--zero.)

To change this in Turbotax, you must go back to the beginning of the personal interview where you picked the separate filing status , there is a question "will the other spouse itemize?"  If the other spouse will not itemize, you can change the answer to No and that will allow the standard deduction.  However, if the other spouse does itemize, the return may be rejected from e-filing, and if not, the IRS will send you a bill for back taxes plus interest and penalties, usually about 6 months after you file.  

As others have pointed out, this is one of several "costs" associated with filing separately.