When filing Married Jointly does turbotax give a breakdown forom each partner?

[davidmoses91]

This is my first year married and filing jointly, im a nurse and my wife is a stay at home wife taking care of our children but she has income. My question is when filing will it say something like for instance from a 10k refund 5k is from john and 5k is from sarah (a breakdown of what money in refund came from each partner)

[jerry2000 · Accepted solution]

No, Turbotax does not do that because that is not the way that the tax system works. Your tax is calculated on your total joint income, not on each individual piece.

[davidmoses91]

So lawfully no matter which partner made more income, this would be shared 50/50?

[jerry2000]

The refund is made out in both of your names. You can split it up in any way that you see fit.

[bess-a-crandall]

I think what you're getting at DavidMoses is, how should we split up the cost of taxes. I think really, in order to do that (assuming relatively equal earnings and expenses) you're going to need to look at how much tax you owe together as a couple, divide that  by your individual proportions of your joint income, and subtract your individual tax prepayments. Depending on your individual tax situation that might not lead to a fair distribution of tax costs.

[BobinCT]

What I think is fairest (although it's sort of a bother) is to look at what the results would have been if you each filed a Married Filing Separate return.  The joint return will produce a better tax result.  Split that "bonus" 50/50.