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Single or Married option on your Federal Tax (Vanity)
Posted on 01/26/2012 8:12:49 AM PST by stuck_in_new_orleans
My wife and I were married back in June. We sat down to do our taxes but came across a question as we debated if we should file joint or single returns. After we were married we didn't change anything about our marital statuses at our places of employment. Inorder to file for joint return do you have to change the info on your employers paperwork?
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Miscellaneous
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My wife and I were married back in June. We sat down to do our taxes but came across a question as we debated if we should file joint or single returns. After we were married we didn't change anything about our marital statuses at our places of employment. Inorder to file for joint return do you have to change the info on your employers paperwork?
To: stuck_in_new_orleans
Don’t even think about it. It’s really a directive to your employer as to how much to take out.
To: stuck_in_new_orleans
Marital status is used to determine withholding.
What matters at filing time is the info on your 1040.
Well, that and that you didn’t “lie” on your W-2.
3
posted on
01/26/2012 8:16:31 AM PST
by
cuban leaf
(Were doomed! Details at eleven.)
To: stuck_in_new_orleans
Even if you were married on Dec 31, you can file married.
W2’s are for withholding, just change it this year if you want.
4
posted on
01/26/2012 8:19:26 AM PST
by
svcw
(For the new year: you better toughen up, if you are going to continue to be stupid.)
To: stuck_in_new_orleans
Congratulations on your marriage! May God bless you.
5
posted on
01/26/2012 8:22:47 AM PST
by
bubbacluck
(I'll pay more for tomatoes, thank you.)
To: stuck_in_new_orleans
You are married, as far as the IRS is concerned.
Your W-4 only tells your employer which withholding tables to use. You can adjust that at any time.
Be forewarned that it may change your withholding significantly. If you and your wife are both working, it might result in withholding too little.
If that's the case, you can specify on your W-4 that you are "married, but withhold at the higher single rate".
6
posted on
01/26/2012 8:25:06 AM PST
by
justlurking
(The only remedy for a bad guy with a gun is a good WOMAN (Sgt. Kimberly Munley) with a gun)
To: liege
Thanks, and thanks to everyone for the advice
To: stuck_in_new_orleans
Congratulations. Wish you many years of wedded bliss. No you do not. The W-4 form you file with your employers is to direct them on the proper amount to withhold from your pay. Enjoy your refund. :-) probably won’t be there by Fat Tuesday.
8
posted on
01/26/2012 8:25:58 AM PST
by
mainevet
(Get an M1911 or two or three or four)
To: stuck_in_new_orleans
I agree - for IRS purposes, you were married for 2011. You can file Married-jointly or Married-separately, but can’t claim “single”. You may not like what you see, when you finish this exercise. If you both work you may well have under-withheld.
9
posted on
01/26/2012 8:30:18 AM PST
by
Tandem
(What ever happened to personal responsibility & self-reliance?)
To: stuck_in_new_orleans
The paperwork with the employer matters not. It is your legal status as of 12/31/2011 and that sounds like "married." Your best bet is to get
IRS Publication 17 and read about filing statuses. Chances are you will determine that filing as Married Filing Jointly beats the heck out of Married Filing Separately. Use a tax program (several available online for free if you don't actually file through them) and try the different combos.
10
posted on
01/26/2012 9:04:56 AM PST
by
NonValueAdded
(Limbaugh: Tim Tebow miracle: "He had atheists praying to God that he would lose.")
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