Agree with both PPs. We filed separately once, early in our marriage, and I can't remember the reason. I think maybe he was a law student at the time and I was working and for whatever reason it worked out to our benefit to do so that one year. We did not itemize back then. I think that once you have significant deductions, and kids, it is almost always better to file jointly. We use TaxAct (online program that is much less expensive than Turbo Tax) and it will also look at both scenarios for you.

If there is a large disparity in your incomes you will benefit from marriage. This is the flip side of the "marriage penalty" that hits married people who have similar incomes. Probably would cost you $15-20k to file separately, leaving aside the fact that there are certain deductions you lose entirely if you file separately.

Turbotax will try both solutions for you

I just went back to work half time after more than a decade as a SAHM. DH makes 200k and I make about 60k. We've always filed jointly because our earnings were in the same ballpark when we got married but now I could be in a much lower marginal tax bracket if we filed separately. I'm wondering if there are others out there who file separately for the same reason and what the pros and cons are.

TIA.