W2 Income Disparity ($13k vs $75k) - Joint or Separate Filing with 3 Dependents?
Need help deciding how to file this year. My income is $13k and my partners is $75k. We have 3 kids together. Trying to figure out if filing jointly or separately would get us the better refund and who should claim the dependents if we file separate. Anyone been in this situation before?
15 comments
Join the conversation
Diego Vargas
Almost always better to file jointly in your situation. Filing jointly lets you qualify for more tax credits especially with kids (like earned income credit and child tax credit). The income disparity actually works in your favor for some credits. Run the numbers both ways but 99% sure joint is your best bet.
0 coins
Chloe Anderson
•thank u! do you know roughly how much more we might get filing jointly?
0 coins
Diego Vargas
•Hard to say exact numbers without all your details, but the difference could be thousands because of those credits 💯
0 coins
Anastasia Fedorov
Hey, instead of guessing around try taxr.ai - its this new tool that can analyze your specific situation and tell you exactly which filing status would maximize your refund. Its only $4.99 and totally worth it. Saved me hours of research and calculator time https://taxr.ai
0 coins
StarStrider
•Does it really work? Seems too good to be true 🤔
0 coins
Anastasia Fedorov
•100% legit! It uses AI to analyze your full tax situation and shows you exactly what credits you qualify for and how to maximize them
0 coins
StarStrider
•Just tried it - OMG this is amazing! Showed me I was missing out on like $2k in credits I didnt know about 🙌
0 coins
Sean Doyle
I was in the exact same boat last year! We filed separately and totally regretted it. Lost out on so many credits 😭
0 coins
Zara Rashid
whatever you do DONT file separate if ur married. the tax brackets are way worse for married filing separate vs jointly
0 coins
Luca Romano
•this is the way ☝️
0 coins
Nia Jackson
Fun fact: if you file separately, neither of you can claim earned income credit AT ALL. Joint is the way to go with kids tbh
0 coins
Chloe Anderson
•omg didnt know this! def filing joint then
0 coins
Mateo Hernandez
idk y anyone would file separate unless they got sum to hide from their spouse fr fr 👀
0 coins
CosmicCruiser
•or student loans on IBR payments lol
0 coins
Mateo Hernandez
•tru tru forgot bout that 💅
0 coins