Question Show If I lived apart from my spouse from July 10 to December 31 but wasn't legally separated from my spouse under a decree of divorce or separate maintenance at the end of the year, may I file as head of household? Will my filing status allow me to claim a credit for childcare expenses and the earned income tax credit if I have a qualifying child? Answer No, you may not file as head of household because you weren't legally separated from your spouse or considered unmarried at the end of the tax year. To be considered unmarried at the end of a tax year, your spouse may not be a member of your household during the last 6 months of the tax year and you must meet other requirements. Your filing status for the year will be either married filing separately or married filing jointly.
See What is My Filing Status? and Publication 501, Dependents, Standard Deduction and Filing Information for information about filing status. When you’re married, you have a lot to think about when it comes to money and managing finances, including whether to file your taxes jointly or separately. Learn the advantages of filing jointly versus separately, and how filing taxes separately can affect your taxes. Married filing jointly vs. separately.Most married couples choose to file jointly to take advantage of tax credits and deductions. Some of the more common credits and deductions that are
available for married couples, but either are not available or are not as advantageous for taxpayers who are married and filing separately include:
When should married couples file taxes separately?
How does getting married affect taxes?Marriage can affect taxes in many ways. While everyone’s situation is different, there are some tax benefits of marriage that help you
pay less taxes. Plus, you’ll have tax options as spouses that single filers don’t. Other tax changes after marriage are related to paperwork you should complete.1
The tax benefits of marriage:
As you become familiar with the different processes of
tax filing when you’re married, be aware of how your tax situation could change in the future. Changes in your combined income, qualifications for additional tax credits, or an increase in debt will influence your tax filing. If you were ever to separate, choosing to file taxes separately will avoid any liability relating to your soon-to-be-ex’s finances. There isn’t one right answer for every married couple when it comes to your taxes. How you choose to file together depends on your
personal circumstances and many variables surrounding income, debt, expenses, and liabilities. The best course of action is usually to file jointly as a married couple and claim as many credits as you can, but if you think you could save money by filing separately, consult with a tax professional. 1 “How Does Marriage Affect Taxes?” H&R Block. HR Block This material is for informational purposes only. Neither New York Life nor its agents provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Please consult your own tax, legal, or
accounting professional before making any decisions. What is best married filing jointly or separately?When it comes to being married filing jointly or married filing separately, you're almost always better off married filing jointly (MFJ), as many tax benefits aren't available if you file separate returns. Ex: The most common credits and deductions are unavailable on separate returns, like: Earned Income Credit (EIC)
How do I know if it's better to file jointly or separately?Joint filers usually receive higher income thresholds for certain tax breaks, such as the deduction for contributing to an IRA. If you're married and file separately, you may face a higher tax rate and pay more tax. Filing separately may be a benefit if you have a large amount of out-of-pocket medical expenses.
|