my friend is married,filing for divorce. Should she file income tax as a single or joint return?

Answer 1

The best option is "married filing separate" this way they each there own return. However, if they can come to an agreement and are on good terms they may get a better return filing a joint return.

Answer 2

Most people will say no, and usually the answer is no, you cannot amend from Joint to single after the original filing deadline. However, your case is unique. You were not married for those years so your tax return was never valid for those years as a MFJ return. You should file a return as single for each year in question and send it with a letter explaining the circumstance and asking that the IRS substitute this return for the one originally filled. This should be an original tax return, not an amendment. The IRS is likely to question why you filed MFJ in the first place and why it took you so long to correct the mistake. If your ex-spouse filed MFJ fraudulently without your knowledge then you are off the hook but you have to explain why you didn't file your own return and trigger an audit right away. It might be best to just leave that whole can of worms unopened and don't do anything to peak the interest of the IRS. As for being "remarried", your ex is full of stuff I can't mention on Yahoo. The only way to get remarried is to sign a new marriage license. Filing a tax return doesn't make you married. Some states have common law marriages so if you do things like live together, share bank accounts and file tax returns together the state might treat you as married after a long enough period of time, but simply filing a federal tax return isn't enough to invoke this. Look up your state's laws on common law marriage to see if this is even relevant in your situation.

Answer 3

If your friend is not yet divorced at the end of the year, she may file a separate return as married. Single will be more costly. And mate needs to file the same way.

Answer 4

If you become single at some point during the taxation year, you need to file as single. She'll be filing for 2006. If she was still with hubby until after Dec/06, then she should file as married, I believe. Single and separated are treated the same. Check the income tax guidelines on the web if there's any concern.

Answer 5

If they lived together most of the year in 2006, I would recommend they file jointly and go 1/2 and 1/2 on whatever that results in ($$ received/owed). If there is tension and he refuses to file with her jointly, if they lived together more than 50% of 2006, she would have to file married filing SEPERATELY. Now, if she's been separated from him more than 50% of 2006, she can file SINGLE or HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD (if she has dependents). To the IRS, they don't need a divorce decree or marriage license. For example, if a bf and gf have lived together for few years and decided to file MARRIED FILING JOINTLY, they legally can although they're not legally married. It's the same with a divorce. Even if it isn't final, as long as she isn't living with him in 2006, the IRS wants to know if you were together providing support for each other or not.

Answer 6

Married, filing separately

Answer 7

She should filed Divorced or Separated!

Answer 8

going to have to file married, filing separtley.

Answer 9

Joint until the divorce is final.

Answer 10

Married but seperated I believe is what she wants. FiIing jointly would require the signiture of the ex which may be awkward or impossible depending on the situation.