How can I compare Married Filing Jointly with Married Filing Separately?
by TurboTax • 
Updated December 11, 2025 2:30 PM
If you're using TurboTax Desktop, try this:
Open your return and select Forms.
Select Open Form, enter What-If Worksheet (it may appear as What-If Wks), and select Open Form.
Select the MFJ vs. MFS box.
Scroll down to Balance Due (Refund) located under Line 72.
The second column shows the federal outcome for a joint return, and the third and fourth columns show the outcome for the taxpayer and spouse if filing separately.
Negative numbers are refunds and positive numbers are taxes due.
