Preparing your taxes can often feel like navigating a complex maze, especially when you're filing for two! But fear not, married couples, because filing jointly on TurboTax can actually simplify the process and often lead to significant tax benefits. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step, ensuring you feel confident and in control of your joint tax return.
Ready to tackle your taxes together? Let's dive in!
Step 1: Gather Your Arsenal – The Essential Documents
Before you even log into TurboTax, it's crucial to have all your paperwork in order. Think of this as gathering your ingredients before baking a delicious cake – you wouldn't want to start without everything you need!
What you'll need for both spouses:
Personal Information:
Social Security Numbers (SSNs): For both you and your spouse, and any dependents.
Dates of Birth: For both you and your spouse, and any dependents.
Current Address: The address you resided at on December 31st of the tax year.
Income Documents:
W-2 Forms: From all employers for both spouses. These show your wages, taxes withheld, and other important information.
1099 Forms: This category is broad and can include:
1099-INT: For interest income from banks.
1099-DIV: For dividend income from investments.
1099-B: For proceeds from brokerage and barter exchange transactions (e.g., stock sales).
1099-NEC: For non-employee compensation (if you or your spouse did freelance or contract work).
1099-R: For distributions from pensions, annuities, IRAs, etc.
1099-G: For unemployment compensation or state tax refunds.
K-1 Forms: If you have income from partnerships, S corporations, or trusts.
Self-Employment Income/Expenses: If either of you runs a business, detailed records of income and expenses.
Deduction and Credit Documents:
Mortgage Interest Statements (Form 1098): If you own a home.
Property Tax Records: For real estate taxes paid.
Student Loan Interest Statements (Form 1098-E): For student loan interest paid.
Tuition Statements (Form 1098-T): For education expenses.
Child Care Expenses: Records of payments to daycare providers, nannies, etc., along with their Employer Identification Number (EIN) or SSN.
Medical Expense Records: Receipts for unreimbursed medical expenses.
Charitable Contribution Records: Receipts for donations to qualified charities.
Retirement Contributions: Documentation of IRA or other retirement contributions.
Health Savings Account (HSA) Contributions and Distributions: Form 1099-SA and other records.
Prior Year Tax Information:
Your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) from last year's return: This is often needed to e-file. If you used TurboTax last year, it should automatically import this.
Pro Tip: Create a dedicated tax folder, either physical or digital, and drop all these documents in as they arrive. This will save you a lot of headache when it's time to file!
Step 2: Logging In and Choosing Your Filing Status
Now that you have your documents, it's time to get started on TurboTax.
Accessing Your Account:
Existing Users: Go to the TurboTax website and log in to your existing account. If you've used TurboTax before, it's generally recommended to stick with the same account, even if you were previously filing as single. TurboTax can often pull in information from previous years, saving you time.
New Users: If this is your first time using TurboTax, you'll need to create a new account.
Selecting "Married Filing Jointly":
Once logged in (or after creating your account), TurboTax will typically start by asking you some basic questions about your situation.
Personal Info Section: Navigate to the "Personal Info" or "My Info" section.
Marital Status: You will be prompted to answer questions about your marital status. Select "Married."
Filing Jointly: A crucial question will appear: "Do you want to file this return together with your spouse?" Select "Yes." This is the key step that tells TurboTax you'll be filing a joint return.
Spouse's Information: TurboTax will then guide you to enter your spouse's personal information, including their full name, Social Security Number, and date of birth. Ensure this information is entered accurately, as it's critical for e-filing.
Important Note: If you and your spouse previously had separate TurboTax accounts, you cannot "merge" them into one. You will typically choose one spouse's account (often the one with the more complex tax situation or simply the one you prefer to be the "primary" taxpayer) and then manually enter the other spouse's information. Moving forward, always use this single joint account.
Step 3: Entering Combined Income and Deductions
This is where the magic of "joint" filing truly happens – all your combined financial information goes onto one single tax return. TurboTax makes this process surprisingly intuitive.
Navigating Income Entry:
Interview-Style Questions: TurboTax uses an interview-style approach, asking you a series of questions. When it comes to income, it will typically prompt you for each type of income.
Whose Income Is It? For many income types (like W-2s), TurboTax will clearly ask whether the income belongs to you, your spouse, or both. Be sure to select the correct option.
For example, when entering a W-2, you'll see fields for "Your W-2" and "Spouse's W-2" or a clear dropdown to select whose W-2 you are entering.
Importing Data: Take advantage of TurboTax's import features. You can often import W-2s directly from your employer if they participate, or snap a photo of your W-2 with the TurboTax mobile app. This can save significant time and reduce data entry errors.
Manual Entry: For documents that cannot be imported, simply follow the prompts and manually enter the information exactly as it appears on your forms. Double-check every number!
Deductions and Credits:
Standard vs. Itemized: TurboTax will help you determine whether taking the standard deduction or itemizing your deductions will result in a lower tax bill. For married couples filing jointly, the standard deduction is significantly higher than for single filers.
If you choose to itemize, you'll enter all applicable deductions for both spouses, such as mortgage interest, state and local taxes, medical expenses, and charitable contributions.
Credits: As you progress, TurboTax will automatically identify and help you claim various tax credits you might be eligible for based on the information you've provided. These can include:
Child Tax Credit
Child and Dependent Care Credit
Education Credits (American Opportunity Tax Credit, Lifetime Learning Credit)
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
And many more!
Remember: For every income item, deduction, or credit, you're reporting the combined total for both you and your spouse on this single return.
Step 4: Reviewing Your Return – The Crucial Double-Check
Once you've entered all your information, TurboTax will compile your return. This is not the time to hit "submit" just yet! A thorough review is paramount to ensure accuracy and maximize your refund or minimize your tax liability.
Utilizing TurboTax's Review Features:
"Review" Section: TurboTax has a dedicated "Review" section that will flag potential errors, missing information, or opportunities for additional deductions/credits. Pay close attention to these alerts and resolve them.
Summary: Look at the overall summary of your return. Does the income look right? Are the deductions and credits what you expected?
PDF Preview: Most importantly, generate and carefully review the PDF preview of your actual tax forms (Form 1040, schedules, etc.).
Check Names and SSNs: Ensure your names, your spouse's name, and all Social Security Numbers are spelled correctly and match your cards.
Income Verification: Compare the income reported on the forms to your W-2s, 1099s, and other income documents. Make sure every box matches.
Deductions and Credits: Verify that the deductions and credits you claimed are accurately reflected.
Refund/Amount Owed: Does the final refund or amount owed seem reasonable based on your income and withholdings?
It's highly recommended that both spouses review the entire return together. A fresh pair of eyes can often catch errors that one person might miss.
Step 5: E-file or Print and Mail – The Final Step
Once you're completely satisfied that your joint return is accurate, it's time to officially file!
Choosing Your Filing Method:
E-file (Electronic Filing – Highly Recommended):
This is the fastest, safest, and most common way to file.
TurboTax will walk you through the e-file process. You will typically need your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) from your previous year's tax return for identity verification purposes.
Both you and your spouse will need to provide electronic signatures, which TurboTax facilitates.
You'll receive an email confirmation when your return has been successfully submitted to the IRS (and state, if applicable) and another email when it has been accepted.
Print and Mail:
If you prefer not to e-file, you can choose to print your return and mail it.
Both you and your spouse must physically sign the printed tax forms in the designated areas.
Attach any required supporting documents (like W-2s) as instructed.
Mail your return to the correct IRS address (TurboTax will provide this). Keep a copy for your records! This method takes longer for processing and receiving any refund.
Payment or Refund:
If you owe taxes: TurboTax will guide you through payment options, such as direct debit from your bank account, paying by credit card (though this usually incurs a fee), or sending a check.
If you're getting a refund: You can opt for direct deposit into a single bank account, or into multiple accounts if you choose, or receive a paper check. Direct deposit is by far the quickest way to receive your refund.
Congratulations! You've successfully filed your joint tax return on TurboTax! Remember to save a copy of your filed return (both the PDF and the TurboTax data file) for your records.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some common "How to" questions related to filing taxes jointly on TurboTax, with quick answers:
How to choose between Married Filing Jointly and Married Filing Separately on TurboTax?
TurboTax will help you compare both options. Generally, "Married Filing Jointly" offers more tax benefits, including a higher standard deduction and eligibility for more credits. However, in certain situations (e.g., one spouse has significant medical expenses, or you want to avoid joint liability for the other's tax issues), "Married Filing Separately" might be better. TurboTax's software can run calculations for both to show you the difference.
How to handle two separate TurboTax accounts when filing jointly for the first time?
You cannot merge two existing TurboTax accounts. Choose one account (often the one with the more complex tax history or the one you want to be the "primary" taxpayer going forward), and manually enter all of the other spouse's income and deduction information into that single return.
How to ensure all income for both spouses is entered correctly on TurboTax?
When entering income (like W-2s or 1099s), TurboTax will prompt you to specify whether the income belongs to you, your spouse, or both. Be diligent in selecting the correct recipient for each income item. For self-employment income, you'll typically enter combined business income and expenses.
How to claim deductions and credits for both spouses on a joint return in TurboTax?
TurboTax automatically combines deductions and credits when you file jointly. As you go through the interview, simply enter all applicable expenses and qualifying information for both spouses. TurboTax will calculate the total and apply it to your joint return.
How to get help if I get stuck while filing jointly on TurboTax?
TurboTax offers various support options. You can use their built-in help articles, access their online community forums for answers from other users or experts, or upgrade to TurboTax Live for direct assistance from a tax expert.
How to check the status of my joint refund after filing on TurboTax?
After filing, you can track your federal refund using the IRS "Where's My Refund?" tool on the IRS website. For state refunds, check your state's tax department website. TurboTax will also provide updates on your e-file status within your account.
How to amend a joint tax return if I made a mistake on TurboTax?
If you need to make changes to a filed joint return, you'll need to file an amended return (Form 1040-X). TurboTax can guide you through this process for a previously filed return. Note that you generally cannot change from Married Filing Jointly to Married Filing Separately after the original filing deadline, but you can amend from MFS to MFJ.
How to organize documents for joint filing next year with TurboTax?
Keep all your tax documents for both spouses in a single, dedicated folder (physical or digital). This makes it easy to retrieve them for the next tax season. Since TurboTax saves your prior year's return, much of your personal information will roll over, but you'll need current year income and deduction documents.
How to ensure my spouse and I are both responsible for a joint return filed on TurboTax?
When you file a joint return, both spouses are equally responsible for the accuracy of the information and any tax owed, even if one spouse earned all the income or prepared the return. This is known as "joint and several liability."
How to find my prior year's AGI for e-filing a joint return on TurboTax?
If you filed with TurboTax last year, your AGI should automatically populate. If not, you can usually find your AGI on line 11 of your prior year's Form 1040. Alternatively, you can request a tax transcript from the IRS website.
