Divorce and taxes: arguably the worst dinner party topic known to man, but also essential knowledge for spouses who’re splitting during tax season. In this blog post, we will discuss if you can file your taxes jointly during divorce proceedings.
Can We File Jointly During a California Divorce?
In the legal world, couples going through a divorce are still married. In the world of taxes, if you’re married or in a registered domestic partnership, then you qualify for joint filing. Therefore, in the simplest of terms, couples going through a divorce can file jointly. However, what if you’re divorce is finalized before taxes are due?
As stated by the State of California Franchise Tax Board website, if you and your soon-to-be ex are still married through the end of the tax year (December 31st), you qualify for joint filing even if you didn’t live together at the end of the year.
Additionally, if you and your spouse’s divorce is finalized on January 1, you can still file jointly for the previous year because you were married as of December 31st. However, if your divorce finalized on December 30th, you and your spouse would not qualify for joint filing. Therefore, marriage through the end of the tax year is the proverbial finish line for filing jointly in April.
Need Help with Your Divorce?
We hope this blog post helps you identify if you can file jointly during your divorce; however, if you’re looking for more help with your California divorce, Law Office of Michael R. Young is here to help! From taxes to child support, attorney Michael Young will advocate for your best interests throughout the entire divorce process. If you want award-winning representation now, look no further than attorney Young!
Call (909) 315-4588 now for a free consultation for your case!