Taxes as Married filing separately for 2018

[Plz]

I have a question.
My husband who is on 1099 and a US citizen ends up owing taxes every year. We filed jointly for 2017 and thank God i claimed my son who is his step son as dependant and that reduced his tax liability but we still owed a few hundred dollars. I had Zero income for 2017 but we did still file jointly. I?m thinking of married filing separately for 2018 taxes in 2019 because we decided that what he owes will be his responsibility only. Will this affect us during the interview with the Immigration officer if we explain the reason while we filed separately? That is was a better situation for us?

A Friend who has gone through this process already told me that it?s a must that we file jointly for immigration process. Is this true?

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

I have a question.
My husband who is on 1099 and a US citizen ends up owing taxes every year. We filed jointly for 2017 and thank God i claimed my son who is his step son as dependant and that reduced his tax liability but we still owed a few hundred dollars. I had Zero income for 2017 but we did still file jointly. I?m thinking of married filing separately for 2018 taxes in 2019 because we decided that what he owes will be his responsibility only. Will this affect us during the interview with the Immigration officer if we explain the reason while we filed separately? That is was a better situation for us?

A Friend who has gone through this process already told me that it?s a must that we file jointly for immigration process. Is this true?

Plz,

it's not a must, but we all know how USCIS likes commingling of finances. Filing taxes jointly is just one easy way to show evidence of bona fide marriage. The system favors married couples who file jointly. Generally, you get more tax breaks if you file jointly. I would suggest doing your taxes on TurboTax -or any other software that guides you through it- first as married filing separate and then, married filing jointly. You might find that married filing jointly benefits you both. Even if it you two end up with a tax liability when filing jointly, maybe you two can come to an agreement in which your husband would cover the tax liability or most of it, since you will know what it would have been as married filing separate.

Those are my humble two cents.

All the best,

USCFFS

[gradstudent2018]

I have a question on this, in order to fill the taxes jointly do I have to let my company know that I'm married? If it says single on W2 is that an issue? My wife's says married now.

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

I have a question on this, in order to fill the taxes jointly do I have to let my company know that I'm married? If it says single on W2 is that an issue? My wife's says married now.

Yes, you want to update that with your company. Otherwise, you will be taxed at the higher -single- rate for no reason. You should be able to fine tune your paycheck deductions to owe zero taxes AND to get zero refund. Most people don't realize that tax refunds are nothing but an interest free loan to the government.

[Plz]

Yes, you want to update that with your company. Otherwise, you will be taxed at the higher -single- rate for no reason. You should be able to fine tune your paycheck deductions to owe zero taxes AND to get zero refund. Most people don't realize that tax refunds are nothing but an interest free loan to the government.

And one would do that on the W4 forms right?

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

And one would do that on the W4 forms right?

Correct. Most employers allow you online access to your W4

[Houston2016]

A Friend who has gone through this process already told me that it?s a must that we file jointly for immigration process. Is this true?

As was said the system favors "file jointly", not only USCIS, but also IRS.
And honestly i don't see the reason to file separately, we were trying to file on Turbotax jointly and then separately, and file jointly is way less taxes need to be paid!
I am Petitioner and last year my husband (alien spouse) filed jointly.

When I was preparing for interview, I went to my IRS account to print out recent IRS transcripts and there were only Tax transcripts what I filed as single, no recent year. I asked to check my husband his IRS account and he had all his taxes filed single and last one filed jointly.

I think next year your husband should file jointly, it would be on his IRS file, and whatever he will owe will be on his name.
Specially when you don't have any income, you husband tax bill will be significantly lower!

Saying to IO that it his financial responsibility and i don't want be responsible for his.... - will raise a big flag!

[Plz]

Correct. Most employers allow you online access to your W4

Thank you. Yes my job has an online submission of W4.

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Thank you. Yes my job has an online submission of W4.

I beg you... LOL, please add a timeline to your signature, and list your Field Office as your locations. It's hard to keep track of everyone.