Date: | 04/24/2009 |
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Organization: | Massachusetts Department of Revenue |
Referenced Sources: | Massachusetts General Laws |
Tax Administration
Issue: May spouses who have filed a valid joint return for a taxable year change their filing status to married filing separately?
Directive: Yes, but only before the due date of the original return, determined without regard to any extensions.
Discussion:
Under Massachusetts law, spouses may file separate returns or
may make a single return jointly of income taxes under chapter sixty-two, even though one of the spouses has neither income nor deductions, provided that their taxable years begin on the same day and either end on the same day or on different days solely because of the death of either or both. Such return shall be known as a joint return and shall include the income, exemptions and deductions of both spouses. Each spouse shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire tax.
G.L. c. 62C, § 6(a).
Couples who have already filed married filing separate returns for a given tax year may change filing status to married filing jointly after the due date of that return has passed. Couples having elected to file a joint return may not change their filing status and file separately after the due date has passed, provided the original joint return was valid, i.e., complied with the requirements of G.L. c. 62C, § 6(a). [1] The due date of the return is to be determined without regard to any extensions.
The rules have their basis in the fact that since no return is legally required until its due date, a return filed before that date may be withdrawn and replaced; after the due date has passed, however, a validly filed joint return makes each "each spouse . . . jointly and severally liable for the entire tax." See G.L. c. 62C, § 6(a), ¶ 4 (emphasis supplied). Once joint and several liability has been established, it may not generally be undone absent compelling circumstances. See e.g., G.L. c. 62C, § 84 ("innocent spouse"). [2]
The Massachusetts rule concerning filling a joint return after separate returns is the same as that in IRC § 6013(b)(1), which states that "if an individual has filed a separate return for a taxable year for which a joint return could have been made by him and his spouse . . . and the time prescribed by law for filing the return for such taxable year has expired, such individual and his spouse may nevertheless make a joint return for such taxable year." Id. The converse, once again is not allowed, as Treas. Reg. § 1-6013-1(a) provides that "[f]or any taxable year in which a joint return has been filed, separate returns shall not be made by the spouses after the time for the return of either has expired." Id. A version of this federal regulation has been in continuous force since 1960, and its validity has been upheld by the courts. See, e.g., McNeil v. United States, 97-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH), ¶50,698 (1997). This has been the Department's long-standing policy.
/s/Navjeet K. Bal
Navjeet K. Bal
Commissioner of Revenue
NKB:MTF:lr
April 24, 2009
DD 09-3