My fiancé and I welcomed our first child in October and are wondering whether we should elope at the courthouse prior to filing our tax returns to maximize return and credits? The plan was already not to have a wedding, so all we’d be doing is going and doing it this month instead of in a couple months. We live in PA where I make about $45k a year and she makes about $55k. I’m sure there are other factors that impact this decision so let me know what information I left out.
And a separate question, we are closing on a house in about a week (so Jan 2026), does home purchasing impact tax returns at all and if so would that impact these returns we are about to file or next years return for 2026 fiscal year? Thank you!
File jointly or separately after having a child a buying home?
byu/willgdrops intax
Posted by willgdrops
3 Comments
If you weren’t married on or before December 31st, you can’t file a Married Filing Joint return or Married Filing Separate for 2025.
Got my MFS/MFJ bingo for today. Just kidding. It is almost always better to file joint. But TBH. It’s better not to get married.
Your question about getting married has been answered. In terms of the home purchase – yes, that can impact your income tax return, specifically when you own a home you typically have a mortgage that you’re paying interest on as well as property taxes. Both the mortgage interest and property taxes are itemized deductions. Your tax software (I recommend freetaxusa, but any software will walk you through it), will handle calculating itemized deductions for you and comparing it to the standard deduction.