Is it true that if i file married separately that i cant itemize my deductions?

we went to h and r block and they told my husband that if we were to file separately then we cannot itemize our deductions! i have a mortgage under only my name and alot of license fees and other stuff. is this true? i just wanted to get answers from other sources. THANKSIs it true that if i file married separately that i cant itemize my deductions?
What they were trying to tell you was that if you file separately, there are many deductions that you won't be able to take or that will be significantly reduced. Here's the list:





(If you choose married filing separately as your filing status, the following special rules apply. Because of these special rules, you will usually pay more tax on a separate return than if you used another filing status that you qualify for.)


- Your exemption amount for figuring the alternative minimum tax will be half that allowed to a joint return filer.


- You cannot take the credit for child and dependent care expenses in most cases, and the amount that you can exclude from income under an employer's dependent care assistance program is limited to $2,500 (instead of $5,000 if you filed a joint return).


- You cannot take the earned income credit.


- You cannot take the exclusion or credit for adoption expenses in most cases.


- You cannot take the education credits (the Hope credit and the lifetime learning credit), the deduction for student loan interest, or the tuition and fees deduction.


- You cannot exclude any interest income from qualified U.S. savings bonds that you used for higher education expenses.


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If you lived with your spouse at any time during the tax year:


- You cannot claim the credit for the elderly or the disabled,


- You will have to include in income more (up to 85%) of any social security or equivalent railroad retirement benefits you received, and


- You cannot roll over amounts from a traditional IRA into a Roth IRA.


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The following deductions and credits are reduced at income levels that are half those for a joint return:


- The child tax credit,


- The retirement savings contributions credit,


- Itemized deductions, and


- The deduction for personal exemptions.


- Your capital loss deduction limit is $1,500 (instead of $3,000 if you filed a joint return).





If your spouse itemizes deductions, you cannot claim the standard deduction. If you can claim the standard deduction, your basic standard deduction is half the amount allowed on a joint return.








So, think carefully before you choose to file separately.Is it true that if i file married separately that i cant itemize my deductions?
Not entirely true. If you used the Married Filing Separately then you both may have to use it. If one of you itemizes then you both have to itemize. Now, here is something to think about. Married Filing Jointly is usually the best option for most people. Married Filing Separately is the least desirable filing status to ever use.
No, not true at all - either you misunderstood what they said, or their preparer didn't know what he or she was talking about (scary thought).





The rule is this: if one of you itemizes, then the other can't take a standard deduction.
NOPE. You can itemize, but he must also itemize. IF you file MFS, both must itemize or both NOT.


The great majority of the time, it is MORE favorable for married couples to file MFJ rather than MFS. If you two filed MFJ, your mortgage payments go in the itemization on Schedule A and you have a schedule C for your owned business/self-employment, or if it's nonreimbursed employee business expense, on the sched A. You are not eligible for several credits by filing MFS.
What they told you is not true. You can itemize your deductions if you file separately, but your husband will have to itemize as well (even if he does not have enough to itemize). It would be best to figure out your return married filing separately as well as filing jointly to see which way is going to benefit you the most.
Not true. Both sides have to do the same thing though.
You might have misunderstood. The rule is that you both must choose the same method. If you itemize he has to as well. If he doesn't have anything to itemize then it's tough luck because he still can't use the standard deduction if you itemize. Did he already file and use the standard deduction? Plus married filing separate disqualifies you for alot of credits. Are you sure you want to file that way?