Married but separated from my wife

Avocado

My wife and I have been separated for almost a year. Last year I had to file my taxes under the "Married Filing Separately" option.

What do I do if she doesn't respond with the information I need from her to file my taxes this time around? Last year I barely managed to get the information I needed from her a few days before tax deadline because she was stalling and not communicating with me. Would I be in trouble with the IRS?

OliviaN

Hello Avocado!

Generally, the main information you need to report in regard to your spouse when filing Married Filing Separately is their SSN, and whether or not she is using the standard deduction or itemizing her deductions.

The IRS requires you to enter your spouse's SSN so they can cross check your returns to ensure you are not "double dipping" on credits, dependents, or itemized deductions. Also if you choose to file separately you must both file the same way either using the standard deduction or itemized deductions. You will also be limited to certain credits by filing separately.

Please note, if you live in a community property state you will be required to provide additional information.

Community property states include: AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI

You can view Publication 555 for the latest information about community property states and how they apply to filing separately by visiting the IRS website here:

https://www.irs.gov/publications/p555

I hope this helps! If you have any further questions you can respond here or reach out to Customer Support within your account! :)