First time filing taxes after divorce

[KiwiinMaine 51]

Hi guys,

 

I will be filing my taxes for the first time since my divorce. I am slightly confused about what to file under and have received conflicting information. I was married up until December of last year, so my 2019 taxes were taxed as married up until my last paycheck for the year. For my 2019 taxes do I file as married filing separately or do I file as single? For anyone that has filed after a divorce, for your first filing did you use a tax filing service or do it yourself? I also bought a car by myself at the end of last year and I know you can do something with the taxes on that too.

 

Any insight is appreciated!

[gregcrs2 1,778]

24 minutes ago, TheHills said:

for your first filing did you use a tax filing service or do it yourself? I also bought a car by myself at the end of last year and I know you can do something with the taxes on that too.

 

Any insight is appreciated!

If your divorce was finalized in 2019, then you cannot file MFJ or MFS.  In my previous marriage, my divorce was finalized Dec. 30th and I had to pay taxes as a single person.  So if that is your situation, be prepared to possibly pay a good chunk of money when filing a tax return as being single. 

[arken 4,197]

Forget about how you were taxed on paystubs. Tax return is the one that takes care of everything. If you were divorced on Dec 31 or earlier in 2019, you are unmarried for entire 2019 tax season, so file as single or HoH if applicable.

 

Not sure why you are connecting your car purchase to tax return, unless you bought it for business.

[KiwiinMaine 51]

35 minutes ago, gregcrs2 said:

If your divorce was finalized in 2019, then you cannot file MFJ or MFS.  In my previous marriage, my divorce was finalized Dec. 30th and I had to pay taxes as a single person.  So if that is your situation, be prepared to possibly pay a good chunk of money when filing a tax return as being single. 

It was finalized just before the end of 2019 so I would file single. Thanks!

[KiwiinMaine 51]

29 minutes ago, arken said:

Forget about how you were taxed on paystubs. Tax return is the one that takes care of everything. If you were divorced on Dec 31 or earlier in 2019, you are unmarried for entire 2019 tax season, so file as single or HoH if applicable.

 

Not sure why you are connecting your car purchase to tax return, unless you bought it for business.

Thanks for that! 

 

I always got told that if you bought a house or car to take the tax info with you to the tax people and they do something with that? I'm very unsure with all of this, sorry!