Welcome To Maine Fastfile
Maine Revenue Services solution to fast and secure tax filing. The Maine Fastfile service provides three options:
Modernized e-File e-File using tax preparation softwareThis service is offered through the IRS and provides one stop processing of federal and state returns. This is the do it yourself option through the purchase of tax preparation software either over-the-counter or online, prepare your own return and press send to e-file. Your return is sent through safe and secure channels, not via e-mail. Prices do vary so shop around .
OR e-File through a paid tax professional
Find a tax professional you trust to prepare and e-file your return. Nearly all tax preparers use e-file now and many are now required by law to e-file. But it’s still a good idea to tell your tax preparer you want the advantages of e-file your refund in half the time, or if you owe, more payment options.
Maine i-File i-File free for Maine taxpayersThis service is available for filing your individual income tax return including the Maine property tax fairness credit. The advantages of Maine i-File are:
Certain restrictions apply. See the directions page of the i-File application for more information.
You May Have To Deal With Different Taxes Deductions And Credits
Your employer will typically withhold only state and local income taxes from your paycheck, but you may also owe local taxes and other taxes, depending on where you live. For example, Ohio, has a school district tax in many of its school districts that requires a separate return to be filed in addition to your state income tax return. Ohio has city tax returns for their taxing municipalities, so you could be filing up to three tax returns if youre filing in Ohio.
You would usually see certain withholdings at the federal level that are not at the state level, says Desnoyers. For example, Social Security and Medicare taxes are withheld for federal tax purposes, but you would typically only see state income taxes withheld at the state level.
You may also qualify for certain deductions and credits that dont show up on your federal tax return. For example, some states offer a deduction or credit for contributions you make to a 529 College Savings Plan, while others offer great deductions for age and/or retirement income. To learn more about your states taxes, deductions and credits, visit your states Department of Revenue or Department of Taxation website.
Can A Married Person File Taxes Without Their Spouse
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In a Nutshell
A married couple filing income tax returns can choose to do so married filing jointly or married filing separately. In the past, the primary reason for filing separate tax returns was to shield one spouse from the tax liability of the other spouse. Couples filing separate returns paid much more in income taxes than couples filing joint returns. Today, with tax law changes, there are situations where filing separately can result in a lower combined tax burden.
Written byAttorney John Coble.
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States With Tax Reciprocity
Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have reciprocity agreements with other jurisdictions as of 2022. They include:
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie repealed his state’s reciprocity agreement with Pennsylvania in 2017, but it was later reinstated. These two states still have reciprocity as of 2022.
How Much Is The Penalty For Filing Taxes Separately When Married
And while theres no penalty for the married filing separately tax status, filing separately usually results in even higher taxes than filing jointly. For example, one of the big disadvantages of married filing separately is that there are many credits that neither spouse can claim when filing separately.
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What Are The Benefits Of Filing Jointly
There are many benefits to filing jointly. In general, you are eligible for a higher standard deduction and you can take advantage of multiple tax credits. Couples with children often receive even more deductions and tax advantages by filing a joint return. Regardless of your filing status, the due date for your return will remain the same. Even if you have a deferred tax liability, your taxes will be due on the same date whether you file jointly or separately.
How To File Taxes When You Get Married
Filing taxes doesn’t get any easier when you’re hitched. Your new marriage changes the filing status you can use when you prepare your federal and state returns. The “married filing jointly” and “married filing separately” statuses provide different benefits, but you have to determine which is appropriate to use for your state taxes. Generally, each state expects you to file taxes with the same filing status you used to prepare federal tax returns.
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Commuting To Another State To Work
You would have to file a resident tax return in your home state and a nonresident state tax return in your work state if you commute to another state to go to work. All your income from all sources goes on your resident tax return, even the income you earned in your “work” state. But you would only include the wages you earned in your work state on your nonresident state tax return.
Pursuant to the Wynne decision, many states provide tax credits on resident returns for taxes you pay to other jurisdictions. The taxes you pay to your work state are effectively subtracted from any taxes you owe to your home state, so you won’t take a double tax hit.
How Married Filing Separately Status Impacts Taxes
But MFS status can be somewhat more beneficial for taxpayers who want to claim the itemized deductions with income threshold requirements. The medical expense deduction is only available for the portion of your expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income as of the 2021 tax year, the return you’ll file in 2022. This can be a much lower threshold to meet on one income than on two combined incomes when you file jointly.
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Income Requirements For Married Filing Separately
Some people arent required to file a federal income tax return if they meet certain age and income requirements for their filing status. But most separate filers will have to file a federal income tax return.
Thats because the IRS requires people with a married-filing-separately status to file a return if their gross income was at least $5, regardless of age.
So where a married couple who are both younger than 65 and filing jointly wouldnt have to file unless their gross income was at least $24,800, if the same couple decides to use the married filing separately status, they would be required to file.
If youre married filing separately, you may have to include Social Security benefits as gross income in order to determine if youre required to file a return. Youll include a portion of your Social Security income if either of the following apply:
- You lived with a spouse at any time during the tax year.
- The combination of your gross income, any tax-exempt interest and half your Social Security benefits is more than $25,000.
What Does Separated Mean To Cra
For instance, you should look into separation because you have been living separately with your spouse or common-law partner for over 90 days as a consequence of a breakdown in the relationship. In divorces, you legally end your marriage to your former spouse. In fact, it is only possible for one person to hold a certain status within a single relationship.
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Your State Income Tax Refund May Be Taxable
When filing your federal income tax return, you have the option to itemize certain deductions rather than taking the standard deduction that the tax code offers.
One of the things you can include in your itemized deductions is your state and local income taxes. If you do deduct these taxes and receive a state or local income tax refund during the same year, you technically overstated your deduction and paid less taxes than you should have.
As a result, you generally must include your refund as income on the following years federal tax return.
Drawbacks Of Married Filing Separately
When a couple files separate returns, they miss out on many important tax breaks and deductions that joint filers receive. Not only that, but you will also have to report your spouses information, including their Social Security number and adjusted gross income , on your return. If your spouse uses itemized deductions, then you will have a standard deduction of zero. While it might seem like it makes sense to file separate returns because your separate incomes would place you both into lower tax brackets, the tax benefits of a joint return almost always outweigh those of separate returns.
While it might seem like you would be in a lower tax bracket by filing separate returns, the standard deduction is quite lower. The standard deduction for joint filers is double that of single filers. In addition, if you file separately, you cannot deduct student loan interest payments, you must use smaller IRA contributions, and you can only receive a smaller capital loss deduction. You should also remember that if you live in a community property state, then the rules about reporting separate incomes can be complicated. You should always consult a tax professional in that case.
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Filing A State Return
TaxACT’s state modules are not standalone applications. They require the federal software to run.TaxACT allows you to prepare your state return, but first you need to prepare your federal return. All the data that flows to the state return originates from the federal return. The State Q& A interview section then prompts you for additional information that is specific to your state. Depending on your state, your filing options may be limited if you have already filed your federal return . If you are in a “Piggy Back” state , you will be required to print and mail your return if not submitting it along with the Federal return. For all other states you can electronically file by selecting State Only when going through the filing steps.
State Only Filing: To file only your state return, click on the blue Filing tab and select E-File My Return. Select the state-only return you wish to submit and then complete the filing steps.
If you do not see the option to file only your state return when going through the filing steps, please follow the instructions below:
You Have Liability Concerns
Both spouses are “jointly and severally liable” for the accuracy of a jointly filed tax return. They’re also jointly and severally liable for any resulting taxes that are due on that return. The IRS can collect tax debts and penalties from each of you. Both of you are equally responsible for any errors or omissions on the return.
Filing separately is one way to limit your liability if you don’t trust your spouse. Or perhaps your spouse has outstanding debts, such as back taxes or past-due child support, and you dont want your refund to be seized to pay them.
An exception to liability exists if one spouse can prove a case for innocent spouse relief, proving that they had no knowledge of the other’s misstatement of tax information. It would be unfair to hold them liable for any debt or penalties resulting from those misstatements.
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Can I File Federal And State Separately
Yes. You can file them separately. Although state returns can be e-filed with your federal return , it’s no longer possible to e-file state returns before the federal.
They are taking this measure to add an extra layer of security to all e-filed state returns.
This new requirement also means you won’t be able to e-file your state if your federal return was, or will be, paper-filed.
You can file federal now and skip state filing, but your e-filed federal return will need to be accepted before you can e-file your state
Here are two ways to skip your state in TurboTax Online:
Method 1 doesn’t require up-front payment for your state, but you’ll have to re-enter your state information. Method 2 saves the work you did on your state return but requires up-front payment.
Get A Lower Student Loan Repayment
If youre on an income-based repayment plan for a federal student loan, in most cases, the payment will be based on only your income, and not your spouses, if you file separately. But filing separately also means you cant take the student loan interest deduction or education credits, like the American opportunity tax credit or lifetime learning credit.
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Many Taxpayers Can File Their State And Federal Tax Returns For Free
IRS Tax Tip 2021-10, February 1, 2021
As taxpayers get ready to file their federal tax returns, most will also be thinking about preparing their state taxes. There’s some good news for filers wanting to save money. Eligible taxpayers can file their federal and, in many cases, their state taxes at no cost.
Taxpayers whose adjusted gross income was $72,000 or less in 2019 can file their 2020 federal taxes for free using IRS Free File. Many of them can also do their state taxes at no charge. They do so through Free File offered by the IRS.
Individuals Required To File A North Carolina Individual Income Tax Return
The following individuals are required to file a 2020 North Carolina individual income tax return:
- Every resident of North Carolina whose gross income for the taxable year exceeds the amount shown in the Filing Requirements Chart for Tax Year 2020 for the individual’s filing status.
- Every part-year resident who received income while a resident of North Carolina or who received income while a nonresident that was attributable to the ownership of any interest in real or tangible personal property in North Carolina, or derived from a business, trade, profession, or occupation carried on in North Carolina, or derived from gambling activities in North Carolina and whose total gross income for the taxable year exceeds the amount shown in the Filing Requirements Chart for Tax Year 2020.
- Every nonresident who received income for the taxable year from North Carolina sources that was attributable to the ownership of any interest in real or tangible personal property in North Carolina, or derived from a business, trade, profession, or occupation carried on in North Carolina, or derived from gambling activities in North Carolina and whose total gross income from all sources both inside and outside of North Carolina for the taxble year exceeds the amount shown in the Filing Requirements Chart for Tax Year 2020. For nonresident business and employees engaged in disaster relief work at the request of a critical infrastructure company, refer to the Personal Tax Division Bulletins.
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What Is The Difference Between Married Filing Jointly And Married Filing Separately
So, whats the difference in married filing jointly vs separately? Married jointly means that the spouses will combine incomes and deductions onto a single tax return. Those filing separately will report their individual income and deductions on separate returns. However, even when you file separately, you must still report your spouses information on your return. When you file separately, you lose out on many deductions and credits that those who file joint returns will receive.
Filing Requirements Chart For Tax Year 2020
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G.S. 105-153.8 requires a married couple to file a joint State income tax return if:
Generally, all other individuals may file separate returns.
On joint returns, both spouses are jointly and severally liable for the tax due. A spouse will be allowed relief from a joint State income tax liability if the spouse qualifies for innocent spouse relief of the joint federal tax liability under Code section 6105.
A married couple who files a joint federal income tax return may file a joint State return even if one spouse is a nonresident and had no North Carolina income. However, the spouse required to file a North Carolina return has the option of filing the State return as married filing separately. Once a married couple files a joint return, they cannot choose to file separate returns for that year after the due date of the return. If an individual chooses to file a separate North Carolina return, the individual must complete either a federal return as married filing separately, reporting only that individual’s income and deductions, or a schedule showing the computation of that individual’s separate income and deductions and attach it to the North Carolina return. In addition, a copy of the complete joint federal return must be included unless the federal return reflects a North Carolina address.
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