Here are eight reasons why a married
person should not file Married Filing
Separately:
If you file MFS,
1. And your spouse itemizes you will have to itemize.
Moneywise, most people do better just claiming the standard deduction.
2. You cannot claim the Earned Income Credit. Low income families with
3 children receive 3 to 5 thousand dollars.
3. You cannot deduct adoption expenses.
4. You cannot get the child and dependent care credit.
5. You cannot claim the education credits.
6. You cannot claim interest on student loans.
7. And you lived with your spouse any time during the tax
year, you cannot take the credit for the elderly or the disabled.
8. And you lived with your spouse at any time during the
tax year, you cannot rollover amounts from a traditional IRA into a Roth IRA.
9. And you lived with your spouse at any time during the tax year,
you may have to include more of your social security benefits.
If you don’t live with your spouse, you might consider unmarried for tax
purposes and file as Head of Household (H/H) if you meet all of the
following qualifying tests:
1. File a separate return.
2. You paid more than half the cost of keeping up your home.
3. You did not live with your spouse at any time during the last 6 months of the tax year.
4. Your home was the main home of your child, stepchild, or foster child for more than
half the tax year.
5. You can claim an exemption for the child. It is o.k. if the noncustodial parent claims
the exemption as long as you qualify.
For help filing taxes call 1.800.826.1929.
IRS Tax Preparation
Call 1.800.826.1929 Nationwide.
Especially serving the Greater Grand Rapids Area in Michigan.