Embarking on the journey of filing your taxes jointly can feel like a significant step, especially if it's your first time. But don't worry! TurboTax makes this process as smooth and straightforward as possible. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every single step of filing jointly on TurboTax, ensuring you feel confident and in control.
How to File Jointly on TurboTax: A Comprehensive Step-by-Step Guide
So, you and your spouse have decided to combine your financial forces for tax season. Excellent choice! Filing jointly often unlocks a world of tax benefits, from larger standard deductions to eligibility for various credits. Let's dive in and get those taxes done right!
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| How To File Jointly On Turbotax |
Step 1: Are You Eligible to File Jointly? Let's Find Out!
Before you even log into TurboTax, let's confirm your eligibility. This is the most crucial starting point.
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Marital Status: Were you legally married by December 31st of the tax year you're filing for? If yes, you're good to go! Even if you got married on New Year's Eve, the IRS considers you married for the entire year.
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Agreement to File Jointly: Both you and your spouse must agree to file a joint return. This means you'll combine all your income, deductions, and credits onto a single Form 1040.
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Responsibility: When you file jointly, both spouses are equally responsible for any tax owed, including any interest or penalties. This is an important consideration to discuss with your spouse.
If you meet these basic criteria, you're on your way to a successful joint filing!
Step 2: Gathering Your Combined Tax Documents
Think of this as your treasure hunt for tax gold! The more organized you are, the smoother your TurboTax experience will be.
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Personal Information for Both Spouses:
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Full Names
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Social Security Numbers (SSNs) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs)
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Dates of Birth
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Current Address
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Prior Year's Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) (if you're importing previous TurboTax returns)
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Income Documents: Collect all income statements for both you and your spouse.
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W-2s: From all employers.
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1099 Forms:
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1099-INT (Interest Income)
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1099-DIV (Dividend Income)
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1099-MISC (Miscellaneous Income)
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1099-NEC (Nonemployee Compensation, for self-employed individuals)
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1099-R (Retirement Plan Distributions)
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1099-SSA (Social Security Benefits)
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K-1s: From partnerships, S corporations, or trusts.
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Any other income statements.
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Deductions and Credits Information: This is where you can significantly lower your taxable income.
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Mortgage Interest: Form 1098
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Student Loan Interest: Form 1098-E
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Tuition and Fees: Form 1098-T
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Childcare Expenses: Provider's name, address, and Tax ID (EIN or SSN)
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Medical Expenses: Receipts and statements (if itemizing)
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Charitable Contributions: Receipts for cash and non-cash donations
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Property Taxes Paid
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Records of any other deductible expenses.
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Health Insurance Information: Form 1095-A, B, or C.
Having these documents readily available will save you immense time and effort as you navigate TurboTax.
Step 3: Starting Your Joint Return on TurboTax
Now for the main event!
Sub-heading: Logging In or Creating a New Account
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New to TurboTax as a Joint Filer? If both of you were previously filing separately with different TurboTax accounts, it's generally recommended to start a new return from scratch using one spouse's existing account or creating a brand-new account. You cannot merge two existing TurboTax accounts.
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Choose the account that has the most complicated tax history (e.g., business income, investments) if you decide to transfer a prior year's return. The other spouse's information will be entered manually.
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Already Have a Joint Account? If you filed jointly last year, simply log into your existing TurboTax account. Your information from the previous year should carry over.
QuickTip: Stop scrolling fast, start reading slow.
Sub-heading: Entering Your Personal Information
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Access the "My Info" Section: Once logged in, navigate to the "My Info" or "Personal Info" section.
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Update Marital Status: This is critical.
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You'll be asked about your marital status. Select "Married".
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A drop-down menu will appear, asking, "Do you want to file this return together with your spouse?" Select "Yes" to file a joint return.
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Enter Spouse's Information: TurboTax will then prompt you to enter your spouse's full name, Social Security Number, and date of birth. Ensure these are accurate and match their official documents.
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Designate Primary Taxpayer: The first name you enter will be considered the "primary" taxpayer. It's a good idea to maintain this order in subsequent years for consistency, though it generally doesn't impact your tax outcome.
Be meticulous here – accurate personal information is the foundation of a correct tax return.
Step 4: Reporting All Combined Income
This is where all those W-2s and 1099s come into play.
Sub-heading: Navigating Income Sections
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As you move through the income sections (e.g., Wages & Salaries, Interest & Dividends), TurboTax will present fields for both your income and your spouse's income.
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Pay close attention to which name is associated with each entry field to ensure you're inputting the correct income for the correct person. For instance, when entering a W-2, it will likely ask, "Whose W-2 is this?" and give you both names to choose from.
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Enter ALL income: Even if one spouse had very little or no income, you must report all combined income from all sources.
Sub-heading: Handling Self-Employment or Business Income (if applicable)
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If either spouse is self-employed or has business income, TurboTax will guide you through the Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business) section. You'll enter all relevant business income and expenses for that spouse.
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Remember: Self-employment income often incurs self-employment taxes (Social Security and Medicare), which TurboTax will calculate for you.
Accuracy in reporting all income sources for both individuals is paramount to avoid issues with the IRS.
Step 5: Entering Deductions and Credits as a Joint Couple
This is where the magic of joint filing often happens, leading to potential tax savings.
Sub-heading: Standard vs. Itemized Deductions
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TurboTax will help you determine whether taking the standard deduction or itemizing your deductions is more beneficial.
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For married couples filing jointly, the standard deduction is significantly higher than for single filers.
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If you choose to itemize, you'll need to enter all your combined deductible expenses (mortgage interest, state and local taxes, charitable contributions, medical expenses if they exceed a certain AGI threshold, etc.).
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Important: If one spouse itemizes, the other must also itemize; you cannot mix and match. TurboTax handles this seamlessly for joint filers.
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Sub-heading: Claiming Credits
Tip: Pause whenever something stands out.
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Joint filing often opens the door to more tax credits or higher income limits for existing credits. TurboTax will ask you a series of questions to determine your eligibility for various credits, such as:
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Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
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Child Tax Credit
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Child and Dependent Care Credit
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Education Credits (American Opportunity, Lifetime Learning)
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Retirement Savings Contributions Credit (Saver's Credit)
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Clean Energy Credits
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Many more!
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Answer all questions accurately to ensure you claim every credit you're entitled to.
Step 6: Reviewing Your Joint Return
Do not skip this step! It's your last chance to catch any errors.
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TurboTax's Review Process: TurboTax has built-in checks and balances. It will guide you through a comprehensive review, flagging any potential issues, missing information, or inconsistencies.
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Manual Review: Take the time to manually review everything.
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Check all names, SSNs, and addresses.
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Verify all income amounts against your W-2s and 1099s.
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Confirm all deductions and credits are correctly applied.
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Look at your calculated tax liability and potential refund/amount owed. Does it seem reasonable?
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State Taxes: If you live in a state with income tax, TurboTax will also prepare your state return based on your federal information. Review this carefully too.
A thorough review can prevent costly errors and delays.
Step 7: Signing and Filing Your Joint Return
The finish line is in sight!
Sub-heading: Electronic Signature (E-File)
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For electronic filing, both you and your spouse will need to electronically sign the return. This usually involves entering your prior year's AGI or a self-selected PIN.
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Ensure both spouses are present or communicate closely when completing the e-file authorization.
Sub-heading: Choosing Your Refund/Payment Method
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Direct Deposit: This is the fastest way to receive your refund. You can opt for a single direct deposit into a joint bank account or even split the refund into multiple accounts (if TurboTax offers this option for the current tax year – typically it's a single deposit).
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Check: You can request a paper check if you prefer. The check will be issued in both names.
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Payment Due: If you owe taxes, you'll have options to pay directly from your bank account, by credit card (though fees may apply), or by mail.
Sub-heading: Submitting Your Return
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Once everything is reviewed and authorized, click the "File" or "Transmit" button.
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TurboTax will send your return to the IRS (and your state, if applicable).
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Confirmation: You'll receive email confirmations from TurboTax and then from the IRS (and state) once your return has been accepted. Keep these confirmations for your records.
Step 8: Keeping Records
Even after filing, your job isn't quite done.
Tip: Revisit this page tomorrow to reinforce memory.
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Save Copies: Download and save copies of your completed federal and state tax returns (PDF format is best).
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Print Copies: Many people still prefer to print a physical copy for their records.
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Organize Documents: Keep all your supporting documents (W-2s, 1099s, receipts, etc.) in a safe place, preferably for at least three years from the filing date, as this is the general IRS audit period.
Congratulations! You've successfully filed your joint tax return on TurboTax!
FAQs: How to File Jointly on TurboTax
Here are 10 common questions about filing jointly on TurboTax, with quick answers:
How to start a joint return if we both used TurboTax separately last year?
You cannot merge two separate TurboTax accounts. Choose one account (ideally the one with the more complex tax history) or create a new one, and then manually enter the other spouse's information.
How to change my filing status from Single to Married Filing Jointly on TurboTax?
In the "My Info" or "Personal Info" section, select "Married" as your marital status, and then choose "Yes" when asked if you want to file together with your spouse. TurboTax will then prompt you to enter your spouse's details.
How to report my spouse's income on a joint return in TurboTax?
As you navigate through the income sections, TurboTax will provide separate fields or prompts for each spouse's income (e.g., "Whose W-2 is this?"). Ensure you enter the income under the correct name.
How to handle deductions and credits when filing jointly on TurboTax?
TurboTax automatically combines both spouses' income and expenses. It will then help you determine whether the joint standard deduction or itemized deductions will result in the lowest tax liability and will apply all applicable joint credits.
Tip: Take your time with each sentence.
How to deal with a deceased spouse when filing jointly on TurboTax?
If your spouse passed away during the tax year and you have not remarried, you can still file a joint return for that tax year. TurboTax will guide you through the necessary steps and forms.
How to get an ITIN for my non-resident alien spouse to file jointly on TurboTax?
To file jointly with a non-resident alien spouse, they generally need an ITIN. You cannot e-file in this scenario and will usually need to mail in your return with Form W-7 to apply for the ITIN. TurboTax can help prepare the tax return portion, but the ITIN application process is separate.
How to split a tax refund when filing jointly on TurboTax?
For direct deposit, the refund is typically deposited into a single bank account. If you want to split it, you generally need to have separate accounts and arrange for the split yourself after the refund is received, or consult with your bank. TurboTax doesn't facilitate splitting directly into separate accounts upon filing.
How to ensure all our information is correctly combined in TurboTax?
TurboTax is designed to combine all information for joint filers. Carefully review each section as you go, paying attention to the names associated with income and deduction entries, and utilize TurboTax's final review feature.
How to correct an error on a jointly filed return after it's been accepted by the IRS?
If your joint return has been accepted and you discover an error, you'll need to file an amended return using Form 1040-X. TurboTax can assist with preparing an amended return.
How to know if filing jointly is the best option for us?
TurboTax will often provide a comparison of "Married Filing Jointly" vs. "Married Filing Separately" to show you which status results in a lower tax liability. Generally, filing jointly offers more tax benefits, but there are specific scenarios (e.g., one spouse has high medical expenses relative to their income) where filing separately might be advantageous.
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