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Conference 7.286::massachusetts

Title:	Welcome to the MASSACHUSETTS Conference
Notice:	Rental property=319, Prop. for sale=320, misc=321, wanted=322
Moderator:	DECXPS::NASEAM::READIO

Created:	Mon Nov 10 1986
Last Modified:	Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2112
Total number of notes:	26238

244.0. "Taxes: Married filing separately Questions" by PDMOPS::BLASKO () Tue Feb 04 1997 12:57

    
    I looked for this already but didn't find it.  I need help
    on some tax questions.
    
    My husband and myself have filed separately.  I did the short
    form claiming head of household and daycare.  I was just told
    last night that I can not claim either of them nor can I do the
    short form.  Or should I say if I do the short form than my husband
    can not do the itemized form.  The house is in his name and he's
    a subcontractor therefore he'll be doing itemized returns.  He
    does not plan on claiming head of household either or daycare.  
    
    Can we file separately and do whatever forms or do we both have
    to file itemized?  I don't have anything to itemize.  This stuff
    doesn't make sense to me but that's ok.  The big problem is that
    I've already sent my taxes in!!!
    
    Thanks
    Deb

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
244.1	you'd best check this	WRKSYS::RICHARDSON		`Tue Feb 04 1997 15:26`	12
	I think you had better read the tax form instruction book. I think that if one of you itemizes, the other must also. (Years ago I used to do our taxes both ways, but filing separately would always have cost me even more money, so I haven't even bothered computing it lately.) I don't know the rules about who can file as head of household, but that will be in the booklet too. If the booklet for the short form doesn't have enough info, stop by your local post office and pick up a copy of the booklet for the regular form 1040 (they usually have cartons of these things) as this info is definitely in there. You might have to file an amended return. /Charlotte
244.2		NOTIME::SACKS	Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085	`Tue Feb 04 1997 17:01`	7
	I have a 1993 Publication 17 in front of me. It says "Your standard deduction is zero and you should itemize any deductions you have if [...] you are married and filing a separate return and your spouse itemizes deductions..." Are you sure you want to file separately? I believe the situations in which it's advantageous are pretty rare.
244.3	Accountant here we come	PDMOPS::BLASKO		`Tue Feb 04 1997 18:31`	13
	Thanks for the replies. Looks like I'm going to have to do an ammendment. Wonderful. We're going to go to an accountant next week. What a pain in the butt. This is my first year being married so didn't think to much of it. I figured since he's got so many deductions etc to do that it would just be easier for me to file the same old way. Thanks again Deb
244.4		NOTIME::SACKS	Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085	`Tue Feb 04 1997 18:38`	2
	If your tax situation is simple and your husband's isn't, file jointly and let him do the taxes. The incremental effort is small.
244.4	WE have deductions	JUMP4::JOY	Perception is reality	`Fri Feb 14 1997 18:32`	9
	Deb, "He" doesn't have so many deductions.....you both do as a married couple. What's yours is his and what's his is yours....married filing seperately is almost ALWAYS more costly in taxes. The best is to live together and not get married (as I've discovered since getting married). Debbie