Under married, filing seperately, my wife's W2 is being listed under mine

[goldie9]

If you are married and filing seperately, you wife needs to file her own tax return with her W-2 on her tax return.  If you are filing Married, then you can enter both of your w-2's on the same tax return.

[optyman]

Delete the questionable W2 and enter it manually in her own return, if you imported it automatically.  Make sure that your wife is setup as a Person and you can "add W-2 for wifes name" under Personal>Personal Income

[vikramgrao]

Does that mean she'll need her own account to start the process? It takes one of her W2 as her's but not this one.

[optyman]

No, you can save your return File>Save As under a new name for anyone you do a return for.  No need for a separate account.

[VolvoGirl]

Why are you filing Married Separate?  You should file a Joint return which is one return combined for the both of you.  You can't enter her income on your separate return.  Go back to My Info and change you to Joint and add her name and info.  

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 then the other one must itemize too, even if it's less than the standard deduction, even if it is ZERO!

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-...

[VolvoGirl]

Online is only good for 1 return. But you can use the same email address for 5 accounts. So you should try to use the Desktop program if you can. The Desktop program can do unlimited returns and efile 5 for free.

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...

[vikramgrao]

She is listed as spouse, adding it manually just adds her W2 to my name, inspite of adding her name in the W2 form.

[vikramgrao]

@VolvoGirl 
Thanks for the info. I tried both, jointly and separately and jointly is showing a much lower tax return, which is why we chose it.

i should've done the desktop app but unfortuntely the fee is already processed. it was the efiling wasn't allowing and we realized this issue.

[VolvoGirl]

I think you still need to pick Joint under My Info.  There is a question asking if you want to file with your spouse.  Look for this screen.....

When you add a W2 don't you get a screen like this?

[VolvoGirl]

OK we must have been typing at the same time.  To enter her W2 you have to do a separate return for her.  Why are you entering it in your return?  Don't try to fill out her separate return in your account.  And read my post again.  Many people think they come out better when filing Married Filing Separate but they are probably doing it wrong. If one person itemizes deductions then the other one must itemize too, even if it's less than the standard deduction, even if it is ZERO! 

Online is only good for one return per account. But you can use the same email address for 5 accounts.

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

[vikramgrao]

Thanks @VolvoGirl 

The confusion is that turbotax didn't explicitly tell us that filing seperately would mean she has to file a seperate account. It seems intuitive (pardon the pun), but i got confused as it kept processing one W2 under her name while the other @W2 got added under mine..

Long story short, you are right. I spoke to a turbotax agent and they clarified it as well. Thanks for the help..