Filing joint tax returns generally results in the lowest tax bill for married couples. However, in some circumstances, they may pay less taxes if they file separately, such as when one spouse has large medical expenses. Medical expenses are deductible only to the extent that they exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income (AGI). So if one spouse would have significantly lower AGI filing separately, it may increase the deduction.
But be mindful of the downsides of filing separately. Certain tax credits, for instance, are generally unavailable to separate filers, specifically for child and dependent care and education. Also, the capital loss deduction for separate filers is limited to $1,500 (as opposed to $3,000 for married couples filing jointly).
Yet there may be reasons filing separately is better even if the tax cost is higher, such as if one spouse has an income-sensitive repayment plan for student loans. Contact the office to weigh all the factors and determine the most advantageous strategy for your situation.
