Income Tax Question

[RosyMad 2]

Do I need to file joint with my UK hubby on taxes.. He and I both have only unemployment.

[JF_CIC 0]

Do I need to file joint with my UK hubby on taxes.. He and I both have only unemployment.

You don't have to file joint. It usually makes sense to file joint financially, because the tax rates and standard deduction for married filing separately suck. But, if your income is low enough that you won't owe income taxes under married filing separately, then just do that as it means he doesn't have to file anything.

I'd suggest using an online tax filing website like taxact.com. You can put in all of your info and see if you'll owe taxes as married filing separately. You only pay when you actually file the taxes, but your income is probably low enough to qualify for free e-filing anyway.

[sstrickland 4]

taxact.com is good. Ive used that site for the past 5 or 6 filing seasons. Very easy to use, never had an issue.

[JoannaV 174]

Filing married whilst your spouse is still living abroad can be complicated, as they don't have an SSN. If you won't gain anything by filing together then don't bother doing it.

[Scott and Mhay 57]

Yeah filing married can be tough..you need either a SSN or ITIN. It might be better to file single or head of household if you are eligable. You can amend your return anytime in the next 3 years.

Edited January 15, 2011 by Scott and Mhay

[dan_ling 6]

There is a benefit filing jointly, by amending my 2009 I will get back $7,000 but I need include my wife's foreign income with the 2555 form and then where on the 1040X to exclude the foreign income for a 1st time foreign income exclusion.

[redstarwarrior 0]

I was going to file as Married, Filing Separately, but honestly it's just so much easier filing as Single until she actually lives here.