HOW CAN i SEE IF i COULD HAVE GOTTEN MORE $$ BACK FROM LAST YEARS TAXES? CAN I STILL GET IT BACK?

Question

Last year when we did my husbands taxes we named him "head of household" because I didnt earn any wages, but this we we found out you get larger deductions if you file as "married filing jointly" even if only 1 person worked? We could have gotten more back, how do I find out the diffrece, we did our own taxes last year, and just filed again this year without usuian any "service" like H&R block or anything, how do we solve this without hiring help.

Answer 1

You can go to IRS.gov and preparer an amended return. Or you can purchase the software online. Just take your copies of your return from last year and re-enter your information changing your filing status to "Married Filing Joint". There are only two lines on the tax form that will change in figures:

Standard Deduction/Itemized Deduction Form1040: line 40
Standard Deduction/Itemized Deduction Form 1040A: line 24

and your Exemptions:
Form 1040a line 26
Form 1040 line 42

Answer 2

Check your return to make sure you didn't file as Married Filing Jointly last year. A tax preparer should know better than file a husband and wife who are married as head of household. They can only file Married filing jointly OR Married Filing Separately UNLESS they were separated the last 6 months of the year.

The "Head of Household" Status is for taxpayers who are unmarried or “considered unmarried” on the last day of the year AND paid more than half the cost of keeping up a home for the year. AND have a “qualifying person” that lived with you in the home for more than half the year.

You can file an amended return within 3 years. Talk to your tax preparer and find out what happened.

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Answer 3

Usually places like H & R Block and Jackson Hewitt offer services to look at your previous years taxes and see if things were done correctly and if you are entitled to more money. I actually just saw a commercial for Jackson Hewitt that advertised that exact thing. Call them and find out what you need to do. Good luck.