Client$($s$)$ #$1$ Client$($s$)$ #$2$

Open Client $1040$

$1136$ Open Client $1040$

$1137$

Primary Taxpayer$$s Legal Name Kai Lee Primary Taxpayer$$s Legal Name Albert Lee

Primary Taxpayer$$s Preferred Pronoun She Primary Taxpayer$$s Preferred Pronoun He

SSN $***-**-1136$ SSN $***-**-1137$

Age $63$ Age $64$

Occupation Bank Manager Occupation Inventory Manager

Citizen $/$ U$.$S$.$ Resident Status U$.$S$.$ Citizen Citizen $/$ U$.$S$.$ Resident Status U$.$S$.$ Citizen

Languages English; Thai Languages English $/$ Thai

Marital Status Married Marital Status Married

Spouse$$s Legal Name Albert Lee Spouse$$s Legal Name Kai Lee

Spouse$$s Preferred Pronoun He Spouse$$s Preferred Pronoun She

Spouse$$s SSN $***-**-1137$ Spouse$$s SSN $***-**-1136$

Spouse$$s Age $64$ Spouse$$s Age $63$

Spouse$$s Occupation Inventory Manager Spouse$$s Occupation Bank Manager

Dependent$($s$)($# $-$ Relationship$)($Name$/$Age$/$SSN$)$ N$/$A Dependent$($s$)($# $-$ Relationship$)($Name$/$Age$/$SSN$)$ N$/$A

Additional information: Additional information:

$$ Kai and Albert are married but separated at this time. They remain cordial and plan to stay married for now, filing separately for the next few years.

$$ Kai is living with her sister and does not own any property other than the home previously shared with Albert. Kai no longer contributes to the expenses required to maintain their home.

$$ Kai does not anticipate any changes to her current income or deductions.

$$ Filing separately, Albert took itemized deductions, which caused Kai to have to do the same in the same tax year. $$ Kai and Albert are married but separated at this time. They remain cordial and plan to stay married for now, filing separately for the next few years.

$$ Albert has incurred additional medical expenses in recent years.

$$ Albert retained ownership of the home he and Kai shared and is paying the mortgage and real estate taxes.

$$ Albert anticipates the same expenses to be incurred next tax year and no changes to his current income.

Tax Planning Scenario $3$

These clients have asked whether they should take the Standard Deduction or itemize their deductions next year to save more tax collectively. They are curious about whether they can continue filing separately even though they are still married and what the downfalls of filing separately might include.