Even if you are married, you must submit your own individual tax return), there can be several pros and cons in choosing how to file your return as a married taxpayer.
*Note: The CRA will wait to process spousal returns until both have been received. Your return will not be processed quicker if completed before your spouse.
Filing a joint return:
Pros:
- Information for both spouses is prepared and entered together.
- Your credits and benefits are automatically maximized.
- The process of transferring amounts between spouses, splitting pensions, and dealing with RRSPs is easier.
Con:
- You must use the same version of TurboTax software (and for TurboTax Online users, pay the same price).
Filing separate returns:
Pros:
- Allows you to enter separate addresses.
- Each person can do their own return, in the version of TurboTax software that works for them.
Cons:
- You will need to manually enter all your spouse's information.
- You may need to fill in more information and do more manual calculations.
Thank you for choosing TurboTax.
