Question

How to Switch the Order of Names on a Joint Return

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
March 6, 2024
1 reply
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I'm working on our tax return and began by entering my information first and then my husband's information. I'm almost finished and just realized this is the order our names are showing up on our return (my name, and then my husband). In the past, our return has always listed my husband's name first. I don't want to cause any confusion. Is there a way to switch this in TurboTax without having to delete my information and then re-enter it?

TurboTax Business Windows

X

xmasbaby0

Employee

If you transferred the 2022 tax file in to start the 2023 return, and then you switched the order of the names on the tax return, that has likely made a mess. If you only switch the names, you have not changed the other information that transferred in ---like the W-2's, 1099's etc. that are linked to the specific spouses in the order they were in last year.

And....switching the order of the names on a joint return can lead to confusion with the IRS. It is much better to stay consistent each year and keep the primary taxpayer and spouse in the same order each year. It is not a matter of vanity or of who made the most income----it just works better to keep the names in the same order.

Unfortunately ---there is no easy way to just fix it again without going back and changing it all. You might need to start the return over and keep the names the same way they have appeared on past returns.

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**