• Filing a joint return can save money on taxes.tax forms image by Chad McDermott from Fotolia.com
  
  An important decision facing married couples at tax time is whether to file a joint or separate federal income tax return. In most cases, it is more advantageous to file a joint return in order to save the most money on taxes. It's always a good idea to calculate your taxes both ways to see which method works best for you.
  
  

Lower Liability

• The way the tax tables are set up generally results in a lower overall tax liability for couples, as opposed to filing separately, since you could end up in a lower tax bracket. Also, the standard deduction is greater for married couples than when filing separate returns; meaning that for those who do not itemize deductions, their adjusted gross income figure will be lower.
  
  

Convenience and Cost

• Filing jointly can be much easier than filing separate returns. Only one tax return needs to be filled out so there may be fewer schedules and forms that are needed. If you have your taxes prepared by a professional, you'll only have to pay one preparation fee instead of two. One form will also take less time to complete so you should be able to get any refund more quickly.
  
  

IRA Contrubution

• Joint returns can help a non-working spouse save for retirement. The tax laws allow non-working spouse to contribute to an IRA as long as they are filing jointly. In some cases, this may be the best way for non-working spouses to save for their senior years since they do not have access to pension plans and do not contribute to Social Security.
  
  

Additional Credits and Deductions

• Filing jointly provides access to additional tax credits and deductions that may not be available when filing the returns separately. The credits include child and dependent care, a credit for adopting a child and a lifetime learning credit. Deductions include interest on qualified educational loans such as college student loans.
  
  

Social Security Savings

• Filing jointly can also help you even after you've left the working world for retirement or if you or your spouse are disabled. Social Security benefits are taxes at a lower rate when filing jointly as opposed to separately. This is particularly beneficial for retirees who are trying to get by on a fixed or reduced income.