Covered CA Joint or Separate Filing if Married
Unless you meet one of the exceptions below
Married Couples must file Jointly to get ACA Subsidies
Source Publication 974 Premium Tax Reconciliation PAGE # 5
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(2) Married taxpayers must file joint return. A taxpayer who is married (within the meaning of section 7703) at the close of the taxable year is an applicable taxpayer only if the taxpayer and the taxpayer’s spouse file a joint return for the taxable year. GPO.Gov Final Regulations Page 11 * Turbo Tax Calculator Tax Policy Center….. Joint or separate? Married Filing Separately.If you file as married filing separately and are not a victim of domestic abuse or spousal abandonment (see Exception 2—Victim of domestic abuse or spousal abandonment under Married taxpayers above), then you are not an applicable taxpayer and you cannot get the subsidy. * IRS Publication 974 Page 7 * Instructions 8962 *
Not Considered MarriedYou are not considered married for federal income tax purposes if you are divorced or legally separated –Divorce * CA Courts * Definition San Francisco Court * attorney Website * according to your state law under a decree of divorce or separate maintenance. I
n that case, you cannot file a joint return but may be able to take the PTC on your separate return. See Pub. 501, Exemptions, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information.
Single. Normally this status is for taxpayers who aren’t married, or who are divorced or legally separated under state law. Head of Household. In most cases, this status applies to a taxpayer who is not married, but there are some special rules.
For example, the taxpayer must have paid more than half the cost of keeping up a home for themselves and a qualifying person. Qualifying Widow(er) with Dependent Child This status may apply to a taxpayer if their spouse died and they have a dependent child. Other conditions also apply. The “Filing” tab on IRS.gov can help with many taxpayers’ federal income tax filing needs. The Interactive Tax Assistant tool can help taxpayers choose the right filing status.
Scroll down for more details on the exceptions. |
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IRS Publication # 504
#Divorced or Separated Individuals
pdf * (HTML)
- Community Property – Publication 555
- CA Court Self Help Website – Divorce
-
Dependent Care Benefits Publication # 503
- Nolo - Child Support & Custody
- Automatic Restraining Orders prohibiting changing insurance once divorce is filed fl 110
- AB 1297 Automatic temporary restraining orders Effective 1/1/2026
- Existing law blocks both parties from canceling or changing insurance policies, cashing in or borrowing against insurance or changing beneficiaries on insurance that benefits either party or their children.
- Effective Jan. 1, 2027, the law will also prohibit either party from letting insurance expire by not paying the premiums or failing to renew the policy. Sacramento Observer *
- Frequently Asked Questions for Declarations of Disclosure in California Wilkinson Esq *
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| Estranged Spouse |
What if I don’t have contact with my #estranged spouse,
do we still have to file jointly to get the tax subsidies?
Exception 1—Certain married persons living apart.
You may file your return as if you are unmarried and take the PTC if one of the following applies to you.
- You file a separate return from your spouse on Form 1040 or Form 1040A because you meet the requirements for Married persons who live apart under Head of Household in the instructions for Form 1040 or Form 1040A.
- You file as single on your Form 1040NR because you meet the requirements for Married persons who live apart under Were You Single or Married? in the instructions for Form 1040NR..
- Exception 1—Certain married persons living apart.
Exception 2—Victim of domestic abuse or spousal abandonment.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse or spousal abandonment, you can file a return as married filing separately and take the PTC if all of the following apply to you.
- You are living apart from your spouse at the time you file your 2016 tax return.
- You are unable to file a joint return because you are a victim of domestic abuse (described next) or spousal abandonment (described below).
- You check the box on your Form 8962 to certify that you are a victim of domestic abuse or spousal abandonment.
- Exception 2—Victim of domestic abuse or spousal abandonment.
- Domestic abuse.
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Insurance Companies cannot discriminate against
victims of #domestic abuse, regardless of sex. (Woods v Horton * Woods v Sherry pdf ) npr.orgCA Insurance Code § 10144.2
(a) No disability insurer covering hospital, medical, or surgical expenses shall deny, refuse to insure, refuse to renew, cancel, restrict, or otherwise terminate, exclude, or limit coverage or charge a different rate for the same coverage, on the basis that the applicant or insured person is, has been, or may be a victim of domestic violence.
(c) As used in this section, “domestic violence” means domestic violence, as defined in Section 6211 of the Family Code. Abuse 6203 Definition
See also Health & Safety Code 1374.75
CA Insurance Code 676.9.
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Spousal abandonment.
Records of domestic abuse and spousal abandonment.
If you checked the box in the upper right corner of Form 8962 indicating that you are eligible for the PTC despite having a filing status of married filing separately, you should keep records relating to your situation, like with all aspects of your tax return. What you have available may depend on your circumstances. However, the following list provides some examples of records that may be useful. (Do not attach these records to your tax return.)
- Protective and/or restraining order.
- Police report.
- Doctor’s report or letter.
- A statement from someone who was aware of, or who witnessed, the abuse or the results of the abuse. The statement should be notarized if possible.
- A statement from someone who knows of the abandonment. The statement should be notarized if possible.
- Records of domestic abuse and spousal abandonment.
This all goes beyond our pay grade. Click on the link for VITA.
- Example.
- Rules for the Married Taxpayers Not Filing a Joint Return and Also Allocating With Another Taxpayer.
- Health Care.gov says you don’t have to include a legally separated spouse!.
- Publication 974 Premium Tax Credit pdf HTML.
- Modified Adjusted Gross Income Definition – Line 37* 1040
- 1040 Instructions
- VITA free-tax-return-preparation-for-you-by-volunteers
Calculate your Covered CA MAGI Income
take #Line8b 11 Adjusted Gross income then add line 2a, 6a & 8 (Foreign Income)
- 1040 IRS Annual Tax Form
- Schedule 1 Additional Income & Adjustments to Lower your MAGI Income
- IRA Retirement
- Health Savings Account
- Trumps Big Beautiful Bill - may lower line 6 A Social Security Income Learn More >>> Newsweek * PBS *
- Estimate next years MAGI Income?
- Get instant quotes, subsidy calculation and coverages
- NO ASSET TEST for MAGI based subsidies in Covered CA or MAGI Medi Cal Qualification. Steve's VIDEO
- Nor is there a lien against your estate for Covered CA or MAGI Medi Cal
- Schedule 1 Additional Income & Adjustments to Lower your MAGI Income
-
Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) (2) … means
adjusted gross income - Line 11 of the 1040 Form * Health Care.Gov * 26 USC §62 *
*Plus +
(i) Amounts excluded from gross income under IRC §911 * Foreign Exempted * IRS Form 2555 * CFR 1.36 B - 1 *
(ii) Tax-exempt interest [IRS Coursework] [Form 8815 * Interest Income * Investing Answers.com] the taxpayer receives or accrues during the taxable year; and
(iii) some Social Security Benefits Western Poverty & Law Explanation of MAGI ♦ (UC Berkely One Page Summary) ♦ CFR 1.36 B 1 * IRS Publication 974 ♦ George Town.edu
Get even more details & definitions of MAGI Income
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IMPORTANT!!!
The upcoming year - the future for what you tell Covered CA!
Sure, many people think it’s the past as Covered CA may ask for last years paperwork, but that’s BS! You might have to give back all the subsidies when you file Subsidy Reconciliation form #8962!
-
- VIDEO What is APTC Advance Premium Tax Credit
- Health Net VIDEO How to get subsidies – pay less for coverage
- Interactive Tax Assistant (ITA)
- Am I eligible to claim the Premium Tax Credit?
Tax #Estimators
- turbo tax.com - FREE for simple returns
- H & R Block
- E file.com
- Estimate the Subsidy for Health Insurance, benefits, premiums, etc.
- 8962 ONLINE Calculator
- Our webpage on 8962 Premium Tax Credit Reconciliation
- Tax Form Calculator.com
- e tax.com
- Marriage Higher or Lower Taxes?
ACA What You Need To Know #5187
- VITA - Volunteers to help you
- Publication 17 - Your Federal Income tax
- Health Savings Accounts HSA
California Tax Information Registered Domestic Partners
#737
Federal IRS
- Q1. Can registered domestic partners file federal tax returns using a married filing jointly or married filing separately status?
- A1. No. Registered domestic partners may not file a federal return using a married filing separately or jointly filing status. Registered domestic partners are not married under state law. Therefore, these taxpayers are not married for federal tax purposes. IRS.gov *
- More Federal IRS FAQ's
- Our webpage on Registered Domestic Partners – Spousal Health Coverage?
- ftb.ca.gov/registered-domestic-partner
- Section 106 Deduction for Group Health Plans










