Single or Married option on your Federal Tax (Vanity)

[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?

[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?

[Sacajaweau]

Don’t even think about it. It’s really a directive to your employer as to how much to take out.

[cuban leaf]

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.

[svcw]

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.

[bubbacluck]

Congratulations on your marriage! May God bless you.

[justlurking]

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".

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

Thanks, and thanks to everyone for the advice

[mainevet]

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.

[Tandem]

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.

[NonValueAdded]

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.