Form 2441, Part II, line 4 -- shouldn't the earned income be the total of both taxpayer and spouse on this line? In Basic it is only pulling taxpayer income

[karenh]

Question regarding calculated amount on Form 2441, Part II, line 4. Shouldn't the earned income be the total of both taxpayer and spouse on this line? In Basic it is only pulling taxpayer income, not spouse.

[TaxGuyBill · Accepted solution]

Nope.  Only the first taxpayer's earned income goes there.  The spouse's income goes on Line 5.

From the Instructions:

If filing jointly, figure your and your spouse's earned income separately. Enter your earned income on line 4 and your spouse's earned income on line 5.

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i2441.pdf#page=4

[karenh]

Ok - little embarrassed right now.  Guess I should have scrolled down.  And it's only noon -- going to be a long day.  Thank you for waking me up.

[TaxGuyBill]

No problem, we ALL have those days.  Unfortunately, it gets worse as tax season progresses.

[garman22]

@Karen lol.....i've goofed this week too. Seems its going around.

[Just-Lisa-Now-]

me too, my goof is posted in here somewhere!  :joy: