How to divide our tax refund between spouses (we got married last year)?

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
June 6, 2019
4 replies
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My husband and I got married in September. We keep separate finances but are filing as married filing jointly. How should we split our tax refund between us?

Last year, my federal tax refund was about $1300; his was only $47. This year, filing jointly, our federal tax refund is about $1400. I'm guessing that because of the exemptions we've both claimed on our W-4s (which haven't changed since we got married), most of the refund should be mine, based on my income, but I can't find any information about how to determine what portion of your refund is from which income source. Any help?

Best answer by Zbucklyo

There is no precise way to do this, because everything on a married joint return is calculated together. One solution is to prepare two married filing separate returns, figure out refunds based on that, and then apportion the actual refund based on that percentage. Or do the same for two single returns. Example: Married joint return has refund of $1400. Your MFS return has refund of $1200. His MFS return has refund of $100. You claim 12/13 of $1400; he claims 1/13.

fanfare

Employee

as new lovey-doveys you could just split it 50-50

alexmitev

LOL ... this is not always the case

Critter-3

How can we compare married filing jointly with married filing separately?

If you already created a joint return in the TurboTax CD/Download software, there's a quick way to see how filing separately affects your federal return.

Note: This won't work in TurboTax Online.

Open your return and select Forms in the top right corner of the window.
Click Open Form and type What-If Worksheet (it may appear as What-If Wks).
Check the MFJ vs. MFS box at the top.
Scroll down to Balance Due (Refund) located under Line 74.
- The second column shows the federal outcome for a joint return, and the third and fourth columns, respectively, show the outcome for the taxpayer and spouse if filing separately.
- Negative numbers are refunds, positive numbers are taxes due.

However, this doesn't give you the whole picture because it doesn't account for your state return. For a true apples to apples comparison, you'll need to prepare your returns both ways.

Related Information:

How do I switch from filing jointly to filing separately?

ZbucklyoAnswer

Employee

Anonymous

Would it be reasonable (and close enough, saving myself all that work) to calculate the proportion based on our single returns from last year instead?

RMcPeak

I developed a spreadsheet to help my spouse and I divide our return equitably based on proportional income and taxes withheld. You can get it here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Tax-Return-Division-Between-Spouses-5260263.

Hope it helps!

alexmitev

I am sorry but I regret that I spent $2.12 on your spreadsheet. It is pretty simplistic and DOES NOT show how to split the money from the tax return. And I am being really polite here.