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The Pros And Cons Of Taxing

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Due to the complexity of your financial status there are four options to be chosen from regarding filing status. You may elect to remain married filing separate with Michael. This option would not change the landscape of the tax plan from previous years, leaving you with a tax liability of $10,438. The next tax option implies that you divorce Michael and become a Head of Household tax payer. Filing as Head of Household holds distinct advantages over filing married filing separately. There are deductions available for those filing Head of Household that cannot be claimed under married filing separately. For example, a taxpayer filing under married filing separately cannot claim a tuition credit. Thus, a taxpayer filing separately will have …show more content…

If this were the case, you could be stuck paying a higher marginal tax rate without the benefits from Henry’s additional income provided. The election to stay with Michael and file joint allows for the lowest percentage of total income taxed.
Since the percentage of income taxed is roughly six percent when filing joint with Michael; there will be more disposable income available compared to filing separately or electing Head of Household. Although filing joint with Michael is the best tax plan, the most disposable income stems from the election to marry Henry and file a joint return with him. The amount of itemized deductions available depends on which filing status is elected. This is because of the variations presented within each financial profile for each type of return possible. The largest amount of itemized deductions is from the Married filing separate election due to being the only source of income available. The least amount of itemized deductions allowed is from the election to file a joint return with Henry. This is due to being taxed at a higher marginal rate along with Henry not providing substantial itemized deductions of his own.
The amount of income taxed can greatly depend on the filing status elected; However, there are many actions that can be taken throughout the year that will help lower tax liability and increase disposable income regardless of the filing status selected. The limit for an IRA contribution in 2017 is $5,500 for a

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