Picking your first house, learning about each other, planning for your future – of the many joys of marriage, sitting down and figuring out how you’ll prepare taxes is not usually one of them. If you’re married, there are two options for your filing status with the IRS: married filing jointly and married filing separately. 

What is married filing separately? 

Married filing separately is one of five different tax-filing statuses that you can choose from. It means that you and your spouse each report income, deductions, credits and exemptions on separate tax returns instead of on one return jointly. 

For example, a couple choosing to file separately would each file their own Form 1040 and any accompanying schedules, like Schedule 1, Schedule A or Schedule D. When filing separately, you and your spouse are only responsible for your own individual tax liability. You’re not responsible for any tax, penalties or interest that might result from each other’s returns. 

How married filing separately works 

When choosing the married filing separately, keep in mind that there are a few rules you must follow. For example, if one of you itemizes deductions on Schedule A instead of taking the standard deduction, both of you will have to itemize deductions. And you’ll have to decide who gets which deductions, which can get complicated if you want to deduct your mortgage interest, for example. 

For tax year 2023, the standard deduction is $13,850 for married couples filing separately. Filing separately might also exclude you from eligibility for certain tax deductions and credits (see below). 

Keep in mind that married filing separately and filing as a single unmarried person are two different things. In other words, you can’t choose the single filing status if you’re married. In some situations, the tax brackets are different for single filers and married couples filing separately. 

How married filing separately vs. jointly affects tax rates 

How you file will impact your income tax bracket. Following are the tax rates for married individuals filing jointly or separately. 

2023 federal income tax rates (for taxes due in April 2024)¹ 

2024 federal income tax rates (for taxes due in April 2025)² 

The benefits of married filing separately 

While the tax code encourages married couples to file their tax returns jointly, there are a few scenarios where married filing separately could be beneficial. 

These include when both spouses have about the same amount of income and when combining income pushes a couple into a higher tax bracket. Other scenarios where married filing separately might make sense include the following: 

1. You and/or your spouse have deductions based on Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). High medical expenses are a common example of deductions   subject to AGI limits. You can deduct medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your AGI if you itemize. 

2. You and/or your spouse have income-based student loans. If your Student Loan repayment plan is based on your income, filing separately may reduce the payments you’re making on the obligation, depending on your income.   However, there are also education tax credits you might lose as a result of filing separately (see below), so be sure to weigh your options. 

3. You live in a community property state. If you or your spouse live in what is known as a community property state, special rules apply for allocating income and assets. Even though you may file separate returns, each of you may be obligated to report half of your combined income and deductions on each return. 

4. Protection against liability issues. Married filing separately may be an appropriate option if there is a lack of trust between spouses. Both partners must consent to filing a joint tax return, so filing separately can help if one spouse suspects the other of tax evasion or misfiling tax documents. 

5. You are not willing to file together. Married filing separately can also accommodate couples who are in the process of divorce or separation. Even if divorce or separation isn’t an issue, filing separately can allow each spouse to maintain autonomy over their own tax situation and potentially their own finances. 

In general, choosing the married filing separately status may make sense when couples without dependents have large, itemized deductions or are separating. 

The drawbacks of married filing separately 

The fact is, filing jointly makes sense for most married couples and most decide to file jointly because it tends to result in a lower tax bill and easier filing. 

One of the biggest drawbacks to married filing separately is that you may lose potential tax breaks, credits and deductions. These include the following: 

• The Child and Dependent Care Expenses Credit — This allows you to claim unreimbursed childcare expenses like babysitting, daycare and summer camp as a nonrefundable tax credit. 
• Education tax credits — These include the American Opportunity Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit, which help offset costs for post-secondary education. 
• Student loan interest — The interest paid on student loans may be tax-deductible if you’re married and file jointly. 

Other tax credits that aren’t available to married couples filing separately include the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the Adoption Tax Credit and the Credit for the Elderly or Disabled. Also, the Child Tax Credit and the Retirement Savings Contribution Credit will be limited to half the amount they would be if you filed jointly. 

Which filing status should you choose? 

One of the best ways to figure out whether filing separately or jointly is best for you is to prepare your tax return both ways and look at which method results in the lowest tax liability. If you use tax software to prepare your tax return, many of today’s products will perform this calculation for you and provide a recommendation. 

Remember, these are just general guidelines regarding the pros and cons of various tax filing statuses. It’s important to understand the married filing separately rules, so you should consult a tax professional about your specific circumstances.