For married couples who live together and share finances, tax season can bring with it a lot of questions about how you should file and why. In this month’s blog post we briefly dive into what couples need to know before filing their taxes and how they can determine if they should file jointly or separately.

Married Filing Jointly

Your filing status determines your tax rate and the amount of deductions you can qualify for. For most couples filing jointly is the best option for several reasons. Basically, married couples can continue to qualify for a lower tax rate despite having a higher taxable combined income. This tax break in addition to one of the largest standard deductions offered by the IRS makes filing jointly the best option for the vast majority of married couples.

Married Filing Separately

The circumstances in which a married couple would benefit more from filing separately are far and few between. They mostly include situations where one spouse has outstanding deferred debt that needs to be collected promptly. Examples can include having large amounts of student debt or costly outstanding medical bills. Filing separately is also the best option for couples who are expecting to get divorced within the year.

Final Thoughts

If you’re still unsure of which status makes the most sense for you, call on a highly qualified and experienced CPA. One tax service does not fit all so it’s important to turn to a professional who is committed to finding the absolute best option for you and your family. Contact the experts here for a variety of services including forensic accounting, tax services, financial consulting, bookkeeping, and much more.