Feb
5
2008
Way to promote education
Author:Turbo Tax is a godsend, but even with my online automator, tax filing has suddenly become a real pain this year.
I usually get back at least $1,300 in school credits, but since Brandon and I are married now, we either have to file married filing jointly or married filing separately. If we do separate tax forms, I cannot claim school credits at all. If we file jointly, we cannot claim school credits if our adjusted gross incomes exceed $80k. This number does not adjust for regional rates of inflation, either. So, someone in California who makes $200k annually is on the same par as that of someone of a proportionate income-level living in the Midwest – where housing rates and cost of living is much lower – who makes $80k a year.
And this is despite the fact that Brandon and I married in June – we were married for just half the year, but we have to file as married for the entire year.
I’ve stopped trying to make sense of it all. All I know is that I now miss out on education credits that I have earned and deserve. Way to promote higher learning there, federal government.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
You may qualify for the Tuition and fees Adjustment, which isn’t a good as a credit, but still lowers your taxes. Did you get look at that? I’m a part time tax preparer…so I know a little something. Not sure about whether it works for MFS filing status.
PS. If you already filed, you can amend.