'married filing separately'?
You cannot claim your "husband" as an exemption simply because he has zero earned and unearned income. He has to live with you the entire year and be your dependant as a qualifying relative. His parents must be supporting him if he has no earned income. It would be better to file married filing separately, especially since he refuses to sign the return. He may be harboring income illegally. If you suspect that your spouse is cheating on taxes, you should file married filing separately. The IRS holds both signatories responsible when both spouses sign. If a spouse generally did not know, but the IRS catches the other spouse, the victimized, "ignorant" spouse has to fill out a Form 8871 and prove to the IRS that she/he did not know. You have to file separately in any event if your husband continues to refuse to the sign the return. That would apply to state taxes, also.
Can married couples live separately?
Then don't get married. Living with someone is PART of marriage. If you can't live with someone, you shouldn't get married. Married couples live separately because of marital problems, NOT because they choose to. I have never met a married couple who wanted to live separately, and I highly doubt I ever will. Marriage is a package. If you don't like some things in the package, don't accept it. Marriage isn't right for everyone, and there's nothing wrong with not wanting marriage. There are plenty of happy single people who are content just living on their own. You very well could be one of them.
Filing Taxes - Married Filing Separately?
Yes, but your tax rate will be higher than filing jointly as a married couple.
Question about filing taxes- married filing separately?
My husband and I have always filed married filing jointly. However, this year I am considering married filing separately. The reason is my student loans. I have high student loans my husband has none. I was told by my lender that if I file married filing separate I could use the the new income based repayment program that will greatly reduce my monthly student loans. The question is can my husband file as head of household even though we are married filing separately? I have two step-children who live with us. It is only right that he carries them because they are his biological kids. If he can't file head of household what are the disadvantages for filing separately? Please answer only if you have knowledge about filing or preparing taxes and you can give some good insight. Thanks.
My parents filed their taxes separately. Since they are not (married but filing separately) on the FAFSA, what do I put?
If your legal parents are married to each other, regardless of their tax filing status, you indicate that they are married on the FAFSA and include the income for both parents. This is also true if they are separated but not divorced, yet still living together.If your legal parents are not married to each other, but living together on the day you file the FAFSA, you indicate that they are unmarried but living together and you include the income for both.If your legal parents are not married to each other and do not live together (including separated/not divorced) you indicate the appropriate status (divorced, separated, never married) and you include the income for your custodial parent only. If you custodial parent is remarried, you choose that status and include the income for the step-parent.
Married Filing Seperatly in Community Property State: Who can claim mortgage interest and children?
I live in California, a community property state and have been living apart from my wife since October of last year. While married, I earned most of the income (my wife worked about 12 hours per week) and paid the mortgage bills. Now we are getting a divorce and she is being uncoroperative about getting the taxes done. Can I file married seperatly and claim the deduction for my kids and our home mortgage and if I do, will she be entitled to half of my refund since we are still married and in a community property state?
FAFSA: if your parents are married but separate and filed separately...?
Anonymous gave you a good answer. I just wanted to clear up the issue of whether your parents need to be legally separated or not. Federal regulations state clearly that parents do not need to be legally separated to be considered separated for FAFSA purposes unless they are living in the same home. Here is what the Federal Student Aid Handbook says about this issue: "A couple need not be legally separated to be considered separated--they may deem themselves informally separated when one of the partners has left the household for an indefinite period and the marriage is severed. While a married couple that lives together can't be informally separated, in some stated they can be legally separated. If their state allows this, and if they are still living together and are legally separated, then that is their status on teh FAFSA. For a dependent student, use the rules for divorce to determine which parent's information to report." FSA Handbook, AVG, Chapter 2, Pg 29 "If the student's parents are divorced, he should report the informationfo the parent with whom he lived longer during the twelve months prior to the d ate he completes the application, regardless of which parent claimed him as an exemption for tax purposes. If the student lived equally with each parent or didn't live with iether one, then he should provide the information for the parent from whom he recieved more financial support or the one from whom re receved more support the last calendar year for which it was given. Note that it is not typical that a student will live with or receive support from both parents exactly equally. Usually you can determine that the student lived with one of the parents more than half the year or that he received more than half support from one of the parents." FSA Handbook, AVG, Chapter 2, pg 29 Students whose parents claim to be separated are more likely to be selected for verification at some schools, so you should report your information as accurately as possible because you may have to document that it is true.