Single Moms – Work at home – Online education – being a single parent

Sandy G asked:


Hi! How does the new proposed tax rebate work if you’re a stay-at-home mom? The news reports talk about working families, but what if one spouse works and the other stays home taking care of the children and they file married filing jointly? Does the stay-at-home spouse not get a rebate since she doesn’t work, or does the household get a $1200 rebate since the household works and pays taxes and files jointly? Thanks!
In response to the person who asked why I would file jointly with my husband if I have no salary as a stay-at-home mom:

Of course I would want to file jointly so my husband’s income can be offset by my personal exemption and my deductions. You get a higher standard deduction if you file jointly, and this deduction, plus my personal exemption, can be used against my husband’s income. (We itemize our deductions, so if we filed separately, we’d have to split these itemized deductions, which again would be lost for me because I’d have no income.) Additionally, certain credits, like some of the educational credits, require you file jointly if you’re married.

If I filed separately, all of these deductions would be lost because I’d have no income to use them against. I hope that helps.

work at home mom