A headline that includes both “taxes” and “divorce” is naturally going to be a slightly depressing topic. At least you can appreciate the fact that living in Florida allows you to escape state income taxes that many Americans have to pay each year. Nevertheless, tax season is still a daunting time.
For those going through divorce, however, filing taxes is often more complicated than simply filling out some forms using commercial software. The main issue for many couples who are still technically married but soon to divorce is whether they should file joint taxes. Even if the couple is now divorced, their marital status on December 31 of the tax year is the date on which the federal government defines your status for tax purposes. So, if you were married on December 31 and divorced later in January, you may still be able to file jointly with your former spouse.
Many couples in this bracket avoid filing jointly simply because their relationship has soured. This may be a mistake: there are many tax benefits in marriage, and some of those benefits go away if you file a separate return.