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February 7, 2024
Question

Filing after getting married

  • February 7, 2024
  • 3 replies
  • 0 views

Hello,

 

I started my tax return and just got married last year. My wife did not make any income last year, so from what I heard, we'd get a huge tax break filing jointly. After entering all of my information, I come to see that my tax return is half of what I would normally get when I was single.  My income didn't increase to the point of going to a higher tax bracket.  This is my first time filing in this manner, so are there things I should be double-checking?

3 replies

Employee
February 7, 2024

Compare your return with the previous one line by line. 

February 7, 2024

make sure spouse's info was entered correctly and that the filing status is indicated as married filing jointly. 

VolvoGirl
Employee
February 7, 2024

Are you using your account and transferred from 2022?  Did you add her name and ssn under My Info?  What filing status did you pick?  Go to My Info and under your name pick married and enter her name and ssn.  Then pick you will file a Joint return.  Married filing Separate is the worst way to file.

And a spouse is never a dependent.  You file a JOINT return even if one spouse has little or no income.  

Employee
February 7, 2024

Married Filing Jointly is usually better, even if one spouse had little or no income. When you file a joint return, you and your spouse will get the married filing jointly standard deduction of $27,700 (+$1500 for each spouse 65 or older)  You are eligible for more credits including education credits, earned income credit, child and dependent care credit, and a larger income limit to receive the child tax credit. 

**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.**