Discussion:Filing Separate Return

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(Couple lives tog)
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{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Skhyatt|Date=3 November 2007|Text=Couple lives together. My understanding is that if one of the spouses "gifts" property to the other, that it is considered separate property, thus if that is correct, the house would be separate property of the wife.}} {{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Skhyatt|Date=3 November 2007|Text=Couple lives together. My understanding is that if one of the spouses "gifts" property to the other, that it is considered separate property, thus if that is correct, the house would be separate property of the wife.}}
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 +{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Skhyatt|Date=3 November 2007|Text=Solomon, the wife is married and they do live together, so I'm not sure your cites apply? This one just seems odd. So the wife's W-2 earnings have to be split as I read it, regardless if we know if the husband is filing, has earnings or not? Seems like I would need to ask some questions about the husband even though I'm not doing his return?}}

Revision as of 02:37, 3 November 2007

Discussion Forum Index --> Tax Questions --> Filing Separate Return

Skhyatt (talk|edits) said:

3 November 2007
I have a client who wants to file a MFS return. Resides in California. I do not know if her Husband works or not. There is a home that she says he gave to her and that it is in her name alone. That being the case, I am assuming that all deductions related to the house are hers to claim on Sch A? As I said, I don't know if her husband works, doesn't work, files separate or what. As I read the rules on this, both Fed and Calif, her W-2 income is community property. If that is the case, she should only have to report 50% of those earnings and the husband should have to report the other half. The last two years tax returns were prepared by another firm and they prepared them reporting everything on her return MFS. Another thing that puzzles me is I talked to a CPA friend today and he says that the W-2 earnings don't necessarily have to be split. He was in a hurry, so I didn't really have a chance to ask further questions. Am I missing/forgetting something here?

Solomon (talk|edits) said:

3 November 2007
Sec. 66(a) which references (when living apart all year) Sec. 879(a). Reg. 1.66-2.

TheTinCook (talk|edits) said:

3 November 2007
If the funds to pay for the house come out of community income, then they have to split it.

Check out FTB Pub 1051A.

I'm pretty sure that wages earned in CA are community property barring a pre/post nuptial agrement or physical split with no intention of reconciling.

Lots of "if"s and "but"s in here, as well as missing info about the taxpayer and spouse.

Hopefully KatieJ or Riley2 will pop up here.

Skhyatt (talk|edits) said:

3 November 2007
Couple lives together. My understanding is that if one of the spouses "gifts" property to the other, that it is considered separate property, thus if that is correct, the house would be separate property of the wife.

Skhyatt (talk|edits) said:

3 November 2007
Solomon, the wife is married and they do live together, so I'm not sure your cites apply? This one just seems odd. So the wife's W-2 earnings have to be split as I read it, regardless if we know if the husband is filing, has earnings or not? Seems like I would need to ask some questions about the husband even though I'm not doing his return?