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ClusterF*ck: The Gameshow
Feb. 20th, 2009 01:02 pmImagine this tax scenario, if you will:
A married couple living in separate states, who have been living apart for 7 months and who have been contemplating divorce for several months. Due to issues with family and one spouse's chronic medical condition, as well as shared financial debt, they have been reluctant to actually file for the divorce until these issues have been properly handled. However, they no longer support each other financially, and at least one spouse is living with a new romantic partner. Fortunately, they have no children. They are legally separated by the laws of one, but not both, of their resident states.
Which filing status are they permitted by law to use on their taxes?
Woot! ( Let the Fun Begin! )
Tune in next time on Clusterf*ck: The Game Show, when two pairs of Siamese twins married to each other battle over child custody rights when a surgically separated twin and a still-conjoined twin want a divorce from the two remaining twins.
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*Losely based on an actual conversation with the IRS help line. *headdesk*
A married couple living in separate states, who have been living apart for 7 months and who have been contemplating divorce for several months. Due to issues with family and one spouse's chronic medical condition, as well as shared financial debt, they have been reluctant to actually file for the divorce until these issues have been properly handled. However, they no longer support each other financially, and at least one spouse is living with a new romantic partner. Fortunately, they have no children. They are legally separated by the laws of one, but not both, of their resident states.
Which filing status are they permitted by law to use on their taxes?
A) Married filing separatelyIf you answered A...you're wrong! If you answered B...you're wrong! C is also wrong, and D is probably also wrong, unless said couple manages to navigate the clusterf*ck correctly! And if you answered A and B simultaneously, you're right...but only if no state return has to be filed!
B) Single
C) Head of Household
D) Married Filing Jointly
Woot! ( Let the Fun Begin! )
Tune in next time on Clusterf*ck: The Game Show, when two pairs of Siamese twins married to each other battle over child custody rights when a surgically separated twin and a still-conjoined twin want a divorce from the two remaining twins.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Losely based on an actual conversation with the IRS help line. *headdesk*