Quote:
Originally Posted by M2inOR
Boomer, that chart does indicate thresholds for single filers as well as couples filing separately.
The thresholds are lower, and may still help some people.
Unfortunately, federal tax rates might be more costly to those single and separate filers.
TurboTax could help some figure out what's better.
Unfortunately, math and problem solving are required.
|
I think I am not communicating my specific question clearly.
If one spouse brings in significantly more income than the other…..
……and both are on Medicare…..
……and their joint income exceeds IRMAA….
both have to pay the higher premium.
Therefore…..
it just seems reasonable that married filing separately could avoid the higher premium for the lower income spouse — if that spouse is under the IRMAA threshold but the other spouse is over.
I realize that the operative word in that question is ‘reasonable’ and married filing separately usually does not help — in general, so the numbers have to be run both ways………and we pay a CPA to do that.
(When I drop the stuff off at the accountant’s office, I know they must love how I do things. Everything they need is there, and it’s all numbered and cross-referenced. I know they have clients who drop off shoeboxes full of papers. But that’s not me.)
Could I handle Turbo Tax? Of course. But I don’t want to. Besides, I want that CPA’s signature.
Anyway, about my specific question above — I am even confusing Google with it. Although I have learned other interesting tax facts from my search, I cannot make “The Google” talk about this one. (And, btw, I taught research technique — back in the prehistoric era when Google wanted the Boolean search method. I also taught how to recognize legitimate sources for information.) (sigh)
Oh well, my question is actually a product of my tendency to think too much. And, for now, it’s moot anyway.
Thanks for trying to help though.
Boomer.