Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    propayne's Avatar
    propayne Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Mar 9, 2008, 01:07 PM
    Married filing jointly but getting less $
    Ok, here's my question. Should I get more back from my taxes when filing married filing jointly then if we both filed as single? I just got married on Dec. 1, 2007 and after doing our taxes jointly we are getting back almost $600 less then we did when we both filed as singles. I thought that we should get more of a tax break by getting married and filing jointly. But, when I add up what I got and he got last year and compare that to our joint return this year it's actually less. We have no children to claim so it's basically the same return I've been doing year after year I just do them together now. What's the deal? HELP!!
    Lon's Avatar
    Lon Posts: 13, Reputation: 3
    New Member
    		  
    #2

    Mar 9, 2008, 04:43 PM
    There is a marriage penalty. You would get more back filing as single people (but since you are married you can't) however you are probably getting more back than filing married separatly.
    Fr_Chuck's Avatar
    Fr_Chuck Posts: 81,301, Reputation: 7692
    Expert
    		  
    #3

    Mar 9, 2008, 05:00 PM
    You can not file as single, you can file as married filing separate or married filing jointly. Those are your two choices.
    MukatA's Avatar
    MukatA Posts: 7,110, Reputation: 176
    Tax Expert
    		  
    #4

    Mar 10, 2008, 04:50 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by Lon
    There is a marriage penalty. You would get more back filing as single people (but since you are married you can't) however you are probably getting more back than filing married separatly.
    You can file only as MFJ or MFS. Work out using both the status and choose the one that is best for you.

    Read: Your Tax Return: Filing Status for Married
Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions
 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Married filing jointly [ 1 Answers ]

I am on H1B visa status throughout 2007 and work in Texas. My wife was on F-1 visa until Dec 2006 and then got her OPT valid from Dec 2006 to Dec 2007. She got a job starting April 2007 in Connecticut. She worked on OPT from Apr 2007 to Oct 2007. In Oct 2007 she got her H1B visa. We are planning...

Filing status as Married Filing Jointly or Filing Separately [ 1 Answers ]

Hi, I have been in USA on L1 for the following time period: May 2006 to January 2007. August 2007 till Date. According to the substantial presence test, I completed my 183 days in US in November 2007. So during 2007 I was a dual status alien. My non-working spuose and year old...

H1B + H4 Married Filing Jointly? [ 8 Answers ]

Hi, I am on H1B since November 2004 and it expires in May 2007. I got married in December 2006 in India. My wife is from India, and she joined me in the US on H4 visa in late January 2007. I worked in the US throughout 2006, whereas my wife was in India. Can I file as married filing jointly?...

Non-resident H4 - filing jointly or married filing separately, and ITIN [ 1 Answers ]

Hi, I got married in the middle of last year and moved later in 2006 to the USA (h4 visa, spouse H1 visa). I do not meet the substantial presence test for 2006 (taking into account the previous two years and computing) or the green card test. As I understand, we can only file jointly if I...

View more questions Search