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Just got married, how should I/we handle our taxes?

HIglesias

HIglesias

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Location
SF
Moto(s)
2015 S1000R
2018 R1200GS
Name
Henry
first off, I know i should probably talk to my tax person. But i don't have one and i'm too poor to afford one. I always just did the free h&r or whatever because i make so little. So i figure maybe someone here can help me out.
We don't own property or have any crazy investments.

I don't know jack about dependents, exemptions, status, etc.
We have no kids and she makes $15k-20k more than me.

What should I change at my job? in terms of withholding or exemptions? How should we file? Separate or joint? and why?
 
HIglesias said:
first off, I know i should probably talk to my tax person. But i don't have one and i'm too poor to afford one. I always just did the free h&r or whatever because i make so little. So i figure maybe someone here can help me out.
We don't own property or have any crazy investments.

I don't know jack about dependents, exemptions, status, etc.
We have no kids and she makes $15k-20k more than me.

What should I change at my job? in terms of withholding or exemptions? How should we file? Separate or joint? and why?
Click to expand...

Congrats. Just do your taxes both ways and file whichever way is cheapest.

Keep in mind that you might be underwitholding each pay period since your wife's higher pay also bumps YOUR tax rate. When I got married we ended up paying taxes, but our differential was larger.
 
If you are not sure, file separately. Among other reasons, god forbid, should you divorce, the paperwork can be significant. Change nothing and see what happens.
 
Wife and I went through this not too long ago-you can try it both ways with one of the online ones and see which one gets you more.


You're finances are not complex enough to warrant paying someone.
 
thanks guys! we've been together for 10 years! since high school. so it was only a matter of time before we got married.
Most people's first response is "is she pregnant"? lol
I was really hoping we would get more money back by being married though
 
It's usually cheaper to file jointly. But any decent tax prep software can help you figure that out. I've been using www.taxactonline.com.
 
HIglesias said:
thanks guys! we've been together for 10 years! since high school. so it was only a matter of time before we got married.
Most people's first response is "is she pregnant"? lol
I was really hoping we would get more money back by being married though
Click to expand...

No, you need to knock her up and buy a house for that.


G'wan and get to it.
 
i'd buy a house if i could! trust me! but the bay area is a fuckin joke to buy anything!
hey Dave, you like that bimmer Xcountry? we just repo'd a sweet one here at the auction and i'm really eye'in it up!
 
HIglesias said:
i'd buy a house if i could! trust me! but the bay area is a fuckin joke to buy anything!
hey Dave, you like that bimmer Xcountry? we just repo'd a sweet one here at the auction and i'm really eye'in it up!
Click to expand...

I need to update my profile-it's the wifes bike now.


Yeah-it's snazzy-very smooth for a thumper, light, flickable, no problems whatsoever, good aftermarket stuff out there. Cruises fine at 80 and power wheelies nicely (not at 80). I'd totally rock one of the baby bimmers.


The rider triangle is a bit small, so I look ridiculous on it-you may find the same issue, depending on yer height.
 
Ah, you're done, just off yourself now and save the pain.
:twofinger
Two certain things death and taxes. Death just comes earlier when you are married.
 
I recently asked this same question. It comes down to who falls into which tax brackets and if you own property and what not. I don't think either her or I make enough money to get to the tax bracket where it matters, so we could file separately if we wanted to. Her return is way more complicated than mine though. :p

Steve

P.S. Congrats dude!
 
There are way more issues. The problem with filing together is that if one of you has peculiar returns ( for instance self employed, investment income, etc etc etc) there are a zillion reasons to NOT file together. In a sense you contaminate each other. Don't be in any giant hurry to do this. You can file separately and make the decision later. The thing with the IRS is that decisions you make now have consequences forever.

Also if you file separately you get audited separately. If you file together, one audit automatically pulls you both in.
 
well, i think she's hot. but to each his own i guess. nice a$$ets don't hurt either :cool

DSC_0544.JPG
 
She's nice I'd worry a bit about where that knife is headed
 
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