Can I File Married Filing Separately to Protect Myself?

Yes — married filing separately (MFS) means each spouse is only responsible for their own tax liability, which can protect you if you're uncertain about your spouse's tax compliance or have significant separate income or debts. The tradeoff is substantial: you lose access to the Earned Income Tax Credit, many education credits, the student loan interest deduction, and the Premium Tax Credit. The SALT cap is $5,000 instead of $10,000. Most couples pay more tax filing separately than jointly. MFS is sometimes used during divorce proceedings or when a spouse refuses to sign a joint return — consider it a tradeoff between legal protection and tax cost.