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T
t6478
February 4, 2021
Question

Recently married. if your spouse owes taxes is it better to file married filing separately?

  • February 4, 2021
  • 1 reply
  • 0 views
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1 reply

E
ErnieS0
February 4, 2021

Possibly. To prevent the IRS from taking your refund to pay for your spouse’s back taxes you can either file separately or file joint with Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation. The injured spouse form splits your joint tax return as if your both filed separately, showing the IRS what part belongs to whom.

 

Learn more at What is IRS Form 8379: Injured Spouse Allocation?

 

If you file separately you may lose some deductions or credits, including the student loan interest deduction, Lifetime Learning Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit. However, there are cases when filing separately will be better.

 

Learn more at Should You and Your Spouse File Taxes Jointly or Separately?

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