Hi,

I am on L2 in US from Sep 2005. I started working in 2006 Jan and have worked for around 4 months with three employers for the whole year.
I need adivce on how to file the tax to get maximum benefit

1) Should me and my husband file tax as Married and filling separately (or) Married and filling jointly
2) Can my husband still claim me as dependent as for most of the year around 8 months I was not working.
3) My income for 2006 is less than my husband, but for 2007 I'll have more income than my husband... who has to be the head-of-the-family
4) We had a child in Aug 2006 who can claim him for maximum benefit.

Please advice

Hi,

I am on L2 in US from Sep 2005. I started working in 2006 Jan and have worked for around 4 months with three employers for the whole year.
I need adivce on how to file the tax to get maximum benefit

1) Should me and my husband file tax as Married and filling separately (or) Married and filling jointly
2) Can my husband still claim me as dependent as for most of the year around 8 months I was not working.
3) My income for 2006 is less than my husband, but for 2007 I'll have more income than my husband... who has to be the head-of-the-family
4) We had a child in Aug 2006 who can claim him for maximum benefit.

Please advice[/QUOTE]

1) Married filing jointly is normally best, but each circumstance is different. The only way to know for sure is to prepare the returns both ways and compare.

2) Your husband cannot claim you as a dependent. You can only file jointly or you both file separately.

3) Since you are married, Head of Household is not an option for you.

4) Do it both ways and compare.