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married filing separately

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
March 22, 2020
12 replies
75 views

I have two taxpayers, for whom I prepared individual tax return for 2018. They got married in 2019. In order to file Married filing separately, do I prepare their individual 2019 tax returns as if they were single taxpayers but check off the box "Married filing separately"? I'm assuming that the program will calculate all the relevant deductions correctly.

The reason I'm asking is that I prepared their return both ways and the "married filing separately" actually gives them better results. I find that unbelievable. Any comments?

ProSeries Basic

This topic has been closed for replies.

Best answer by MsGretle

If you have already input the data for them as joint, there is a "Split MFJ return" option under the FILE menu. This will split them. As long as you have the MFS indicators on, it will assign the proper deductions to each spouse. Of course, if you have already entered them separately, just mark the MFS box in the filing status. There is also a MFS "what-if" worksheet that will tell you what you are going to get, once you split the return, this way, you can make adjustments before you split.

In my experience, most couples who have equal income above $50-60k with no children or tax credits to claim, benefit from MFS. It's less since 2018 because the standard deduction is so high, but generally the tax bracket alone is enough to justify MFS.

George4Tacks

Level 15

Community property state?

Answers are easy. Questions are hard!

T

tcerny51Author

Level 3

No, Illinois

M

MsGretleAnswer

Level 3

If you have already input the data for them as joint, there is a "Split MFJ return" option under the FILE menu. This will split them. As long as you have the MFS indicators on, it will assign the proper deductions to each spouse. Of course, if you have already entered them separately, just mark the MFS box in the filing status. There is also a MFS "what-if" worksheet that will tell you what you are going to get, once you split the return, this way, you can make adjustments before you split.

In my experience, most couples who have equal income above $50-60k with no children or tax credits to claim, benefit from MFS. It's less since 2018 because the standard deduction is so high, but generally the tax bracket alone is enough to justify MFS.

T

tcerny51Author

Level 3

I use ProSeries Basic. It doesn't have "Split MFJ return".

Just-Lisa-Now-

Intuit Community Champion

So switching them from Single to MFS makes the situation better? or MFS comes out better than MFJ?

♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥Lisa♥¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪

T

tcerny51Author

Level 3

Well, I can't file them Single since they married in Sept 2019. However, filing "married, filing jointly" gives them smaller refund than MFS. I just wanted to make sure that if I transfer their 2018 tax return to the 2019 program, I can use that but check the MFS box for each of them.

Just-Lisa-Now-

Intuit Community Champion

As long as theyre not in a community property state, you can do it that way.

♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥Lisa♥¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪

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