The law discriminates against women who don't work.

[Bell30656]

I also disagree with the OP. If the one spouse doesn't work (husband or wife) his/her half of the tax return shouldn't be fully exempt. The working spouse paid into that tax return. One dodge for getting rid of extra income on the Forms I/J is to increase your withholding.

Of course calling it a tax RETURN at all is a misnomer when you receive back more than you put in. It is more of a tax HANDOUT taken from others at the point of the IRS gun. How could the wife of the OP actually have any type of RETURN? She paid in nothing. However, this wonderful system we have in the USA through credits such as the EITC (A wealth redistribution program to take money from those that earn it and distribute it to those that only have to demonstrate an ability to breed.) cause people to receive the money I paid into taxes each pay period throughout the year.

[Stepping off of soapbox]

[Flamingo]

Please forgive this rant...

My wife is a homemaker. The trustee (a female attorney - with an attitude) claimed that on our exempted JOINT return, my wifes 50% exemption was invalid...because she doesn't make money.

Then why does your refund go UP when you file jointly?????

My atty offered a compromise and my wife only has to give up 1/2 of her half..but this sucks. That trustee knows how much it would cost me to fight this and win, and she planned her compromise because she knows the fight would cost more money.

There ought to be remedies so that when you fight the trustee and win, SHE PAYS the extra legal costs.


I'm taking the October LSAT. And I'll remember this.

Hope you remember in October that the trustee could have been male with an attitude and that the nonworking spouse could have been you. The trustee in your case was doing her job.