Married Filing Separate

Married couples have the flexibility to choose between filing jointly or separately on their federal income tax returns. The IRS typically encourages most couples to file joint tax returns by offering various tax benefits to those who opt for this filing status. While in most situations it's advantageous for married couples to file jointly, there might be a few specific instances where it's more beneficial to submit separate returns.

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The best way to find out if you should file jointly or separately with your spouse is to prepare the tax return both ways. Double-check your calculations and then look at the net refund or balance due from each method.