Married filing separated with 3 kids my income in lower than his is this best for me or him?

Answer 1

I'm not sure exactly what you're asking. There is a status called married filing separately that any married couple is allowed to use - married filing joint almost always gives a lower tax bill.

If you're saying you are separated, and are not planning to file joint, and asking who should claim the kids, then you need to figure it all ways (get turbotax or something like that) since it depends on what your two incomes are, not just which is lower.

If you were separated June 30 or earlier, and didn't live together any time after that, there might be another option - the person who has at least one of the children living with them might be able to file as head of household. This would be a MUCH better filing status than fiing as married filing separately if you're eligible for it.

Answer 2

If you can help it, never ever on pain of death file "married seperate". It's the worst way to file for both of you. There are at least a dozen credits, adjustments and deductions that you either lose or reduce just for the filing status.

For example, if you itemize deductions, usually one of you will get a lot of deductions and the other will get only a few, and the one who gets the few loses their standard deduction as well--the whole thing.

Trust me: both of you wil get hosed.