How to Choose Your Tax Filing Status if You’re Married

If you’re married then you’ve probably just always filed a joint return with your spouse. In fact, chances are you’ve never even considered filing any other way. However, for some people, married filing jointly is not the best option. Depending on your situation, it could be more advantageous to file separately. Here are some things to consider when choosing what filing status to use if you are married.

While in many cases, filing together could help lessen the tax hit on you and your spouse it doesn’t always work that way. Sometimes, the only advantage of filing jointly is that you only have to worry about one return. If you and your spouse both work and one of you earns a lot more than the other, then it will typically be better to file jointly, as it will usually help reduce your combined tax bill.

On the other hand, there are other circumstances wherein it that might better to file separately. For example, if you both have taxable income and one of you has a lot of itemized deductions limited by adjusted gross income (AGI), then it might make sense to file separately. That’s because by filing separately, you can also separate both of your AGI’s. If your AGIs are lower on your separate returns, you can save on your tax bill.

This is just one example of where filing separately from your spouse could be helpful. However, it’s best to weigh all your options before making that choice. If you’re not sure what status to choose, you can contact us at GROCO for help. We’ll look at all the numbers and all the possible scenarios and choose the best path for you. Call us at 1-877-CPA-2006, or click here.

Posted in
Don’t Expect to Find These Deductions When You File This Year

Don’t Expect to Find These Deductions When You File This Year

Don’t Expect to Find These Deductions When You File This Year A lot has been made of the all the tax changes this year, thanks to the Tax Cut and Jobs Act. Many of the laws have been altered and some have been completely eliminated. Certain credits have been cut, while others have been increased.…

Florida Man Tries to Keep Huge Tax Refund That Was A Mistake

Florida Man Tries to Keep Huge Tax Refund That Was A Mistake

Florida Man Tries to Keep Huge Tax Refund That Was A Mistake Just about every taxpayer eagerly waits for his or her tax refund this time of year. No matter what they plan to do with it, taxpayers can’t wait for that fat check from the IRS. But what if you somehow got a huge…

How Much Will Amazon Pay in Taxes on $11.2 Billion in Profit?

How Much Will Amazon Pay in Taxes on $11.2 Billion in Profit?

You might think a company that makes more than $11 billion in profit would have a huge tax bill. After all, that makes complete sense. However, in the case of Amazon, the online retail giant, their tax bill is quite small. In fact, according to recent reports, the company will be paying a whopping $0…

How to Claim Deductions for the Business Use of Your Vehicle

How to Claim Deductions for the Business Use of Your Vehicle

How to Claim Deductions for the Business Use of Your Vehicle One of the most common tax deductions for those who have a business is the use of a vehicle. If you use your vehicle for business then depending on your situation, you could reduce your business income significantly. That could be a big boost…