To all you CPA's and other tax experts out there.....what would be the best filing status for someone who is legally separated but not divorced? My brother was served with legal separation papers in Dec 2007, not sure how he did his 2007 taxes, I'm assuming married. For 2007 he got a refund. Now he's trying to do his 2008 taxes with Turbo Tax and he mentioned that he put in married filing separate and it showed he owed $10,000.00 to the Feds. That just seems wrong as he isn't making the same money he was, he's making less as he has had several paycuts, plus now he's paying the mortgage, his apartment rent, child support (which I know is not taxable), spousal support (which is the politically correct way of saying alimony or so I'm told) medical and dental insurance for himself, that thing he was married to as well as their teenage kid. Plus everything else under the sun (meaning he's basically paying double, his utilities, their utilities, his car insurance, that things car insurance, etc.). So with all the things he's paying out that can be deducted on someone's income tax it just seems odd that with all that and making less money that he'd owe this year unlike the prior years. So for all you tax savy people, what is the best filing status that you would recommend? Thanks a bunch and have a glorious week!
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If he's legally separated, he files as SINGLE: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,i… Have him run the numbers again, and they'll probably come out better. (And he *really* needs to stop paying all of his ex's bills. He's still paying her car insurance? Give me a freaking break. Get that man a good lawyer, NOW.)
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