How to File Joint Income Tax Returns

Many married couples choose to file their income taxes together using the filing status "Married Filing Jointly." This is one of the numerous filing statuses that you can choose from on your tax return, and is only available to couples who are legally married at the end of the year when taxes are being filed.

1. Use the tax form 1040 or 1040EZ to file your joint tax return. If you plan to claim any deductions beside the earned income credit or work pays credit, you should use the 1040 form so that you can apply you deductions. If you are claiming income in excess of $100,000 you will also need to use the regular 1040 tax form. 


2. Add your spouse’s income and your income together and place this total in the area where the amount of your combined income is requested. If either one of you is self-employed, you will need to add the amount of money earned by self-employment in the box that is labeled business income.


3. Look at the W2 forms or 1099 forms that you or your spouse have received to determine the amount of taxes that you have paid in over the course of the year.


4. Combine these amounts together to come up with a single figure. This figure will need to be entered into the boxes that say "Federal Income Tax Withheld," "State Income Tax Withheld," Social Security Tax Withheld," and "Other Deductions."


5. Enter these amounts into the corresponding boxes in your tax return.


6. Fill in any personal deductions that you are applying for such as donations to charity, business expenses or any other deductions that you may qualify for.


7. Sign your tax form and have your spouse do the same, and then send it in to the IRS for processing. You can either do this by mail if you are filing out a paper tax form, or through the use of E-filing if you are using tax preparation software on your computer.