Married filing separtely

[Tracy Lee]

Will ATX Max allow us to do a married filing jointly return then split it into married filing separately to compare what is best?

I have husband living in Oregon and Wife living in California. Trying to figure out the best way to file for them.  Combined income is $190,463.

[ILLMAS]

Yes, add form MFJ vs MFS

[RitaB]

That worksheet didn't used to be all that useful to me years ago; I always had to tweak it a lot.  Maybe it's better now. 

However, what I usually do is prepare the MFJ return.  Then I duplicate it twice.  I delete one spouse's information on one, and I delete the other spouse's information on the other.

I also print all three and give to the taxpayers.  This generally stops the self-appointed tax matters spouse who made 2,000 and paid in 11 bucks from asking again.  True story.  This really happened this year.  It was worth the trouble.  Some things are better than money.

[Gail in Virginia]

I like Rita's method if there is any question about which way is best.  The worksheet can be a starting point, but most programs will only do that for the federal, and sometimes the state matters too. 

[Max W]

If both itemize, or both take the SD, I don't think there will be much difference.  It is where one itemizes and the other normally wouldn't, but has to because of the other, where there is going to be a big difference.  I have two couples in this situation.  They are both 2nd marriages and one spouse owns the house, pays the mortgage and Prop taxes.  The other spouse, if filing MFS, would end up having to pay several thousand $'s more.

[Tracy Lee]

I found the duplicate last night and did that just like Rita suggested.  That was very useful.  I will probably go back and try the MFJ vrs MFS Form just to see how accurate it is.

Thanks everyone!