Marriage and Taxes: How to Choose the Right Filing Status
Marriage and Taxes: How to Choose the Right Filing Status
"Should we file jointly or separately?" This is one of the most common questions we hear from our married photographer clients. You've probably seen the abbreviations MFJ (Married Filing Jointly) and MFS (Married Filing Separately) but wondered what they actually mean for you.
Let's break this down in simple terms and answer the questions we hear most often.
What's the Basic Difference?
Married Filing Jointly (MFJ): You and your spouse put everything together on one tax return. All your income, all your expenses, all your deductions - everything goes on one form that you both sign.
Married Filing Separately (MFS): You each file your own separate tax return. Your photography income and expenses go on your return, your spouse's job income goes on their return.
One Important Thing About Filing Separately
Even if you file separate returns, you still have to write your spouse's name and Social Security number on your return. The IRS needs to know you're married. And here's something many people don't realize - you can absolutely have the same accountant prepare both of your separate returns. There's no rule saying you need different accountants.
Why Do Most Couples File Together?
Filing jointly usually saves money because:
You get taxed at lower rates - The government gives married couples better tax brackets when they file together.
Higher standard deduction - For 2024, married couples filing together get a $29,200 standard deduction (increasing to $30,000 for 2025). Filing separately only gets you $14,600 each for 2024 ($15,000 each for 2025).
More tax credits - Things like child tax credits, education credits, and retirement savings credits are either bigger or only available when you file together.
Simpler - One tax return instead of two means less paperwork and often lower preparation fees.
When Would We Tell You to File Separately?
Even though filing together usually works better, we sometimes recommend separate returns when:
Medical bills are really high - If one of you has huge medical expenses, filing separately might help you deduct them. Medical expenses only count if they're more than 7.5% of your income, so sometimes having a lower individual income helps.
Student loan payments - If one of you has income-based student loan payments, filing separately might lower those monthly payments since they only look at one person's income instead of both.
One business has big problems - If your photography business gets audited or has major issues, filing separately protects your spouse's refund and tax situation.
What If You're Separated But Not Divorced?
If you're separated but not legally divorced by December 31st, the IRS still considers you married for tax purposes. This means you must choose between married filing jointly or married filing separately - you can't file as single.
In these situations, many couples choose to file separately to keep their tax matters independent, especially if the separation involves financial disagreements or if communication is difficult. Filing separately means each person is only responsible for their own tax return and any taxes owed.
This can provide peace of mind during an already challenging time, even if it means paying slightly more in taxes than filing jointly would.
December 31st is the Magic Date
Here's an important timing rule: the IRS looks at your marital status on December 31st to determine your filing options for the entire year.
Got married on December 31st? Congratulations! You're considered married for the whole year and can choose to file jointly or separately for all 12 months.
Divorced on December 31st? You're considered single for the entire year and must file as single or head of household (if you qualify).
How We Help You Decide
Here's what makes Bastian Accounting different: we don't guess which way saves you money. We actually prepare your taxes both ways and show you the exact difference.
We show you both options - You'll see exactly how much you owe (or get back) filing together versus separately.
We explain the numbers - We break down why one option is better and what it means for next year.
No surprises - Sometimes what looks like it should save money actually costs more because you lose tax credits or deductions.
What About Our Photography Business?
As photographers, you have some unique situations:
Equipment purchases - Big camera and lighting purchases can create large deductions that might work differently depending on how you file.
Home office - If you use part of your home for photography, this deduction might be affected by your filing choice.
Irregular income - Photography income can be unpredictable, which affects estimated tax payments and planning.
Business losses - If your photography business loses money one year, how you file affects how much that loss can help reduce your overall taxes.
The Bottom Line
Most married photographers save money by filing together, but not always. The only way to know for sure is to run the numbers both ways.
At Bastian Accounting, we calculate both options for every married couple so you can see exactly which choice puts more money in your pocket. No guessing, no assumptions - just the real numbers so you can make the best decision for your family and your photography business.
Ready to see which filing status works best for you? Contact us today and let's run the numbers.
Tiffany Bastian is an Enrolled Agent and founder of Bastian Accounting, providing specialized accounting services exclusively for photographers nationwide. With over two decades of experience and an MBA in accounting, she's passionate about helping photographers understand their finances and focus on their craft.