I got married Oct 31 2006 and dont live together yet. Can we file as single for 2006 ? And if we file as married but not living together, if I itemize my taxes why does my wife have to itemize her list even though she has no deductions? (according to the guy at H&R) Apparently he didnt have the answers so I figure someone might know here. He just said cause you have to.
2007-02-06 08:27:01 · 7 answers · asked by Kamui VII 4 in Business & Finance ➔ Taxes ➔ United States
He was correct, if you file separately and one person itemizes deductions then the other person also must itemize deductions. It is an IRS regulation. If you were married a the end of 2006 you cannot file as single Good luck
2007-02-06 08:32:16 · answer #1 · answered by cinsingl83 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are married as of December 31, 2006, then you are married for the entire year.....it doesn't matter that you didn't live together. If you file married filing separately, and you itemize, then your wife HAS to itemize (her standard deduction would be zero).
2007-02-06 16:33:14 · answer #2 · answered by jseah114 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are married on Dec 31 for a given year, you can file married joint. Just because the HR block man can explain the law, it is still the law. I think he is right, if one itemizes both must itemize. That is the law. I think you will pay less tax if you file married filing joint and split the refund. Not 50 50 but some fair method.
2007-02-06 17:32:30 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since you are married, your choices are filing a joint return (which would probably save you money) or filing as married filing separately.
The H&R guy is right - the law is that if you file as married filing separately and one spouse itemizes, the other must also, or take a standard deduction of zero. They don't have to tell you WHY the law was passed, just that it's the law.
2007-02-06 16:35:41 · answer #4 · answered by Judy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since you are married you can file a joint return or married filing separate return. Married filing joint return will save you give you bigger refund. If your decide to file separate ( prefer not ) and if you itemize, then you wife also need to itemize. See how she loose here std deduction and hence the tax refund..
2007-02-06 16:55:50 · answer #5 · answered by onlinetaxsiteswatch 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, but you have to file as Married. You were married between January 1st and December 31st, 2006.
I got married June 24th and I'll be sure to file as married/jointly.
2007-02-06 16:35:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simply stated - Once you're pregnant, you're pregnant. In other words, you are married and are no longer single so you must file as being married.
2007-02-06 17:46:17 · answer #7 · answered by Jerome S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋