Splitting Married Filing Joint into two returns Married filing Separately

[Gator_123]

I would like to see TurboTax create an optimize button to allow creating returns for married filing separately  

after creating a married filing a Joint return.  Right now you either have to copy the Joint return to another file and delete data and then create a third return for the spouse.  The other option is to create three returns.

[rjs]

If you just want to compare how filing separately would work out, since you are using the CD/Download desktop TurboTax software you can use the What-If Worksheet in forms mode.

First complete your joint return. Then go to forms mode and open the What-If Worksheet. After you open the form, before you do anything, click on Help Center. In the introductory information at the top of the Help, scroll down a bit until you see the following paragraph.

"If you are preparing a Married Filing Joint vs Married Filing Separate comparison, it is very important that you read preparing a Married Filing Joint Versus Married Filing Separate Analysis."

The underlined part of that sentence is a link. Click on that link in the Help (not here in the forum) and follow the instructions there.

[StoshMan]

I can find no 'What-If Worksheets' in Forms mode. Did they do away with this for 2024 filing version?

And the underlined portion below has no link info associated with it?

[VolvoGirl]

No.  The What-If worksheet is still there.  Go into Forms View. Once there, at the top of the left column, click on the icon for "Open Form". A popup window will appear. In the text line, type the word "what" without quotes. You should see "what-if worksheet" appear as a selection choice. Double-click it to launch the form.

[rjs]

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@StoshMan wrote:

And the underlined portion below has no link info associated with it?

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Did you read the paragraph after the underlined portion?

"The underlined part of that sentence is a link. Click on that link in the Help (not here in the forum) and follow the instructions there."