Married filing jointly Versus Married Filing Separateley

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
March 9, 2022
10 replies
41 views

There has been some discusion today about married filing jointly versus married separate. I am confused by some of the answers especially those that say there are some who would benefit by filing separately. I have been in this buisiness 53 years and I have never seen a case where separate returns were beneficial. I have tries. Every time I have tried it just does not work. One party might make out like a trooper but the other one gets hosed so bad it wipes out the gain the other partner got and then some.

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IRonMaN

Level 15

It doesn’t happen often but every now and then it is beneficial. For 2020 it came in handy a few times for folks with unemployment benefits.

Slava Ukraini!

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rcooley25Author

Level 7

When I said that not once have I seen it work I was not completely correct. I have one client that I file separate income tax returns on and it has nothing to do with income taxes but rather the amount of money the wife would have to pay back on her college tuition. Filing separately her and her husband paid alot more in income taxes but it was a drop in the bucket to what the addional amount she would have had to pay torwards her government college tuition had she and her husband filed joint returns.

IRonMaN

Level 15

But then again, if you never try looking to see if it will work, it never will 😉

Slava Ukraini!

S

sewcpa

Level 6

I think that the reason there are numerous answers is that community property states and common-law states get different correct answers for the same data. Different kinds of income or deductions or credits may not get good treatment if IRS cannot "see" the full family income picture.

Here in TX it is rare for MFS to be beneficial. If the clients can talk to each other they normally file together and even if not talking (in divorce) they may still find a way to file together. I am sure that you have seen that in your years in the business.

dd4vols

Intuit Community Champion

been in practice about 30 yrs. haven't had many, but had one yesterday, When clients showed up today, I told them they were very rare, I've probably had maybe 5 in my long career.

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rcooley25Author

Level 7

Thats one more than I have seen in 53 Years.

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