I got married this year. I started my tax return with deluxe but I didn’t file itemized deductions but standard. Why should I have to pay for deluxe? Couldn’t change it?
MFS: I have school loans. I am on a repayment plan but wanted to make sure they didn’t take my refund again this year. If they do they would have taken hers as well and that’s not fair to her or the kids.
Have you looked at filing jointly and having your spouse file as injured spouse? You lose a lot of other credits when you file married fling separately. (like only half the child tax credit, no earned income credit, etc.) If you spouse had income of her own then you could file a joint return and she could file as injured spouse to protect her part of the refund.
If you were legally married at the end of 2017 your filing choices are married filing jointly or married filing separately.
Married Filing Jointly is usually better, even if one spouse had little or no income. When you file a joint return, you and your spouse will each receive the $4050 personal exemption, plus the married filing jointly standard deduction of $12,700 (add $1250 for each spouse over the age of 65). You are eligible for more credits including education credits, earned income credit, child and dependent care credit, and a larger income limit to receive the child tax credit.
If you choose to file married filing separately, both spouses have to file the same way—either you both itemize or you both use standard deduction. Your tax rate will be higher than on a joint return. Some of the special rules for filing separately include: you cannot get earned income credit, education credits, adoption credits, or deductions for student loan interest. A higher percent of your Social Security benefits may be taxable. In many cases you will not be able to take the child and dependent care credit. The amount you can contribute to a retirement account will be affected. If you live in a community property state, you will be required to provide additional information regarding your spouse’s income. ( Community property states: AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI) If you are using online TurboTax to prepare your returns, you will need to prepare two separate returns and pay twice.
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Why do you want to report this?
I got married this year. I started my tax return with deluxe but I didn’t file itemized deductions but standard. Why should I have to pay for deluxe? Couldn’t change it?
Why do you want to report this?
Are you filing married filing separately or married filing jointly? If you are filing MFS---why?
Why do you want to report this?
MFS: I have school loans. I am on a repayment plan but wanted to make sure they didn’t take my refund again this year. If they do they would have taken hers as well and that’s not fair to her or the kids.
Why do you want to report this?
Have you looked at filing jointly and having your spouse file as injured spouse? You lose a lot of other credits when you file married fling separately. (like only half the child tax credit, no earned income credit, etc.) If you spouse had income of her own then you could file a joint return and she could file as injured spouse to protect her part of the refund.
Why do you want to report this?
Answer
If you were legally married at the end of 2017 your filing choices are married filing jointly or married filing separately.
Married Filing Jointly is usually better, even if one spouse had little or no income. When you file a joint return, you and your spouse will each receive the $4050 personal exemption, plus the married filing jointly standard deduction of $12,700 (add $1250 for each spouse over the age of 65). You are eligible for more credits including education credits, earned income credit, child and dependent care credit, and a larger income limit to receive the child tax credit.
If you choose to file married filing separately, both spouses have to file the same way—either you both itemize or you both use standard deduction. Your tax rate will be higher than on a joint return. Some of the special rules for filing separately include: you cannot get earned income credit, education credits, adoption credits, or deductions for student loan interest. A higher percent of your Social Security benefits may be taxable. In many cases you will not be able to take the child and dependent care credit. The amount you can contribute to a retirement account will be affected. If you live in a community property state, you will be required to provide additional information regarding your spouse’s income. ( Community property states: AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI) If you are using online TurboTax to prepare your returns, you will need to prepare two separate returns and pay twice.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894449-married-filing-jointly-vs-married-filing-separately
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901162-married-filing-separately-in-community-property-states
INJURED SPOUSE
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1910698-how-do-i-file-form-8379-injured-spouse-allocation
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