Married taxpayers who have separate incomes and have filed jointly for federal income tax purposes can elect to file separate Iowa returns or to file separately on the combined Iowa return form. Where married persons file separately, both must use the optional standard deduction if either elects to use it, or both must claim itemized deductions if either elects to claim itemized deductions. The provisions of Treasury Regulation § 1.63-1 are equally applicable regarding the election to use the standard deduction or itemized deductions for Iowa income tax purposes. The spouses' election to file separately for Iowa income tax purposes is subject to the condition that incomes received by the taxpayers and the deductions for business expenses are allocated between the spouses as the incomes and deductions would have been allocated if the taxpayers had filed separate federal returns. Any Iowa additions to net income and any deductions to net income which pertain to taxpayers filing separately for Iowa income tax purposes must also be allocated accurately between the spouses. Thus, if married taxpayers file a joint federal return and elect to file separate Iowa returns or separately on the combined Iowa return, the taxpayers are required to compute their separate Iowa net incomes as if they had determined their federal adjusted gross incomes on separate federal returns with the Iowa adjustments to net income.
However, the fact that the taxpayers file separately for Iowa income tax purposes does not mean that the spouses will be subject to limitations that would apply if the taxpayers had filed separate federal returns. Instead, tax provisions that are applicable for taxpayers filing joint federal returns are also applicable to the taxpayers when they file separate Iowa returns unless the tax provisions are superseded by specific provisions in Iowa income tax law.
For example, married taxpayers that file separate federal returns cannot take the child and dependent care credit (in most instances) and cannot take the earned income credit. Taxpayers that file a joint federal return and elect to file separately for Iowa income tax purposes can take the child and dependent care credit and the earned income credit on their Iowa returns assuming they meet the qualifications for claiming these credits on the joint federal return.
The following paragraphs and examples are provided to clarify some issues and provide some guidance for taxpayers who filed a joint federal income tax return and elect to file separate Iowa returns or separately on the combined Iowa return form.
1. Election to expense certain depreciable business assets. When married taxpayers who have filed a joint federal return elect to file separate Iowa returns or separately on the combined Iowa return form, the taxpayers may claim the same deduction for the expensing of depreciable business assets as they were allowed on their joint federal return of up to $100,000 (for the tax year beginning on or after January 1, 2003, and which is adjusted annually for inflation for subsequent tax years) as authorized under Section 179 of the Internal Revenue Code. In a situation where one spouse is a wage earner and the second spouse has a small business, the second spouse may claim the same deduction for expensing depreciable assets of up to $100,000 (for the tax year beginning on or after January 1, 2003) that was allowable on the taxpayers' joint federal return. The fact that a spouse elects to file a separate Iowa return or separately on the combined return form after filing a joint federal return does not mean the spouse is limited to the same deduction for expensing of depreciable business assets of up to $50,000 (for the tax year beginning on or after January 1, 2003) that would have applied if the spouse had filed a separate federal return. In situations where a married couple has ownership of a business, the deduction for the expensing of depreciable assets which is allowable on the spouses' joint federal return should be allocated between the spouses in the same ratio as incomes and losses from the business are reported by the spouses. Subrule 302.15(4) sets out criteria for allocation of incomes and losses of businesses in which married couples have an ownership interest.
2. Capital losses. Except for the Iowa capital gains deduction for limited amounts of net capital gains from certain types of assets described in rule 701-302.38 (422), the federal income tax provision for reporting capital gains and losses and for the carryover of capital losses in excess of certain amounts are applicable for Iowa individual income tax purposes. When married taxpayers file a joint federal income tax return and elect to file separate Iowa returns or separately on the combined return form, the spouses must allocate capital gains and losses between them on the basis of the ownership of the assets that were sold or exchanged. That is, the spouses must allocate the capital gains and losses between them on the separate Iowa returns as the capital gains and losses would have been allocated if the taxpayers had filed separate federal returns instead of a joint federal return. However, each spouse is not subject to the $1,500 capital loss limitation on the separate Iowa return which is applicable to a married taxpayer that files a separate federal return. Instead, the spouses are collectively subject to the same $3,000 capital loss limitation for married taxpayers filing joint federal returns which is authorized under Section 1211(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. In circumstances where both spouses have net capital losses, each of the spouses can claim a capital loss of up to $1,500 on the separate Iowa return. In a situation where one spouse has a net capital loss of less than $1,500 and the other spouse has a capital loss greater than $1,500, the first spouse can claim the entire capital loss, while the second spouse can claim the portion of the net capital loss on the joint federal return that was not claimed by the first spouse. In no case can the net capital losses claimed on separate Iowa returns by married taxpayers exceed the $3,000 maximum capital loss that is allowed on the joint federal return. In a circumstance where one spouse has a net capital loss and the other spouse has a net capital gain, the amounts of capital gains and losses claimed by the spouses on their separate Iowa returns must conform with the net capital gain amount or net capital loss amount claimed on the joint federal return for the taxpayers. The following examples illustrate how capital gains and losses are to be allocated between spouses filing separate Iowa returns or separately on the combined Iowa return form for married taxpayers who filed joint federal returns. EXAMPLE 1. A married couple filed a joint federal return which showed a net capital loss of $3,000. All of the capital loss was attributable to the husband, as the wife had no capital gains or losses. Therefore, when the taxpayers filed separate Iowa returns, the husband's return showed a $3,000 capital loss and the wife's return showed no capital gains or losses.
EXAMPLE 2. A married couple filed a joint federal return showing a net capital loss of $3,000, which was the maximum loss they could claim, although they had aggregate capital losses of $8,000. The husband had a net capital loss of $6,000 and the wife had a net capital loss of $2,000. When the taxpayers filed their separate Iowa returns each spouse claimed a net capital loss of $1,500, since each spouse had a capital loss of up to $1,500. The husband had a net capital loss carryover of $4,500 and the wife had a net capital loss carryover of $500.
EXAMPLE 3. A married couple filed a joint federal return showing a net capital loss of $2,500. The husband had a net capital gain of $7,500 and the wife had a net capital loss of $10,000. The wife claimed a net capital loss of $10,000 on her separate Iowa return, while the husband reported a net capital gain of $7,500 on his separate Iowa return.
EXAMPLE 4. A married couple filed a joint federal return showing a net capital loss of $3,000. The wife had a net capital loss of $800 and the husband had a net capital loss of $2,500. The wife claimed a $800 net capital loss on her separate Iowa return. The husband claimed a net capital loss on his separate Iowa return of $2,200 which was the portion of the net capital loss claimed on the joint federal return that was not claimed by the wife. The husband had a net capital loss carryover of $300.
3. Unemployment compensation benefits. When a husband and wife have filed a joint federal return and elect to file separate Iowa returns or separately on the Iowa combined return form, the spouses are to report the same amount of unemployment compensation benefits on their Iowa returns as was reported for federal income tax purposes as provided in Section 85 of the Internal Revenue Code. When unemployment compensation benefits are received in the tax year the benefits are to be reported by the spouse or spouses who received the benefits as a result of employment of the spouse or spouses. Nonresidents of Iowa, including nonresidents covered by the reciprocal agreement with Illinois, are to report unemployment compensation benefits on the Iowa income tax return as Iowa source income to the extent the benefits pertain to the individual's employment in Iowa. In a situation where the unemployment compensation benefits are the result of employment in Iowa and in one or more other states, the unemployment compensation benefits should be allocated to Iowa on the basis of the individual's Iowa salaries and wages for the employer to the total salaries and wages for the employer. However, to the extent that unemployment compensation benefits pertain to a person's employment in Iowa for a railroad and the benefits are paid by the railroad retirement board, the benefits are totally exempt from Iowa income tax pursuant to 45 U.S.C. Section 352(e). (1)Income from property in which only one spouse has an ownership interest but which is not used in business. If ownership of property not used in a business is in the name of only one spouse and each files a separate state return, income derived from such property may not be divided between husband and wife but must be reported by only that spouse possessing the ownership interest.(2)Income from property in which both husband and wife have an ownership interest but which is not used in a business. A husband and wife who file a joint federal return and elect to file separate Iowa returns must each report the share of income from jointly or commonly owned real estate, stocks, bonds, bank accounts, and other property not used in a business in the same manner as if their federal adjusted gross incomes had been determined separately. The rules for determining the manner of reporting this income depend upon the nature of the ownership interest and, in general, may be summarized as follows: a. Joint tenants. A husband and wife owning property as joint tenants with the right of survivorship, a common example of which is a joint savings account, should each report on separate returns one-half of the income from the savings account held by them in joint tenancy.b. Tenants in common. Income from property held by husband and wife as tenants in common is reportable by them in proportion to their legally enforceable ownership interests in the property.(3)Salary and wages derived from personal or professional services performed in the course of employment. A husband and wife who file a joint federal return and elect to file separate Iowa returns must report on each spouse's state return the salary and wages which are attributable to services performed pursuant to each individual's employment. The income must be reported on Iowa separate returns in the same manner as if their federal adjusted gross incomes had been determined separately. The manner of reporting wages and salaries by spouses is dependent upon the nature of the employment relationship and is subject to the following rules: a. Interspousal employment-salary or wages paid by one spouse to the other. Wages or compensation paid for services or labor performed by one spouse with respect to property or business owned by the other spouse may be reported on a separate return if the amount of the payment is reasonable for the services or labor actually performed. It is presumed that the compensation or wages paid by one spouse to the other is not reasonable nor allowable for purposes of reporting the income separately unless a bona fide employer-employee relationship exists. For example, unless actual services are rendered, payments are actually made, working hours and standards are set and adhered to, unemployment compensation and workers' compensation requirements are met, the payments may not be separately reported by the salaried spouse.b. Wages and salaries received by a husband or wife pursuant to an employment agreement with an employer other than a spouse. Wages or compensation paid for services or labor performed by a husband or wife pursuant to an employment agreement with some other employer is presumed income of only that spouse that is employed and must be reported separately only by that spouse.(4)Income from a business in which both husband and wife have an ownership interest. Income derived from a business the ownership of which is in both spouses' names, as evidenced by record title or by the existence of a bona fide partnership agreement or by other recognized method of establishing legal ownership, may be allocated between spouses and reported on separate individual state income tax returns provided that the interest of each spouse is allocated according to the capital interest of each, the management and control exercised by each, and the services performed by each with respect to such business. Compliance with the conditions contained in paragraphs "a" or "b" of this subrule and consideration of paragraphs "c," "d," and "e" of this subrule must be made in allocating income from a business in which both husband and wife have an ownership interest.a. Allocation of partnership income. Allocation of partnership income between spouses is presumed valid only if partnership information returns, as required for income tax purposes, have currently been filed with respect to the federal self-employment tax law. An oral understanding does not constitute a bona fide partnership implied merely from a common ownership of property.b. Allocation of income derived from a business other than a partnership in which both husband and wife claim an ownership interest. In the case of a business owned by a husband and wife who filed a joint federal income tax return in which one of them claimed all of the income therefrom for federal self-employment tax purposes, it will be presumed for purposes of administering the state income tax law, unless expressly shown to the contrary by the taxpayer, that the spouse who claimed that income for federal self-employment tax purposes did, thereby, with the consent of the other spouse, claim all right to such income and that therefore such income must be included in the state income tax return of the spouse who claimed it for federal self-employment tax purposes if the husband and wife file separate state income tax returns.c. Capital contribution. In determining the weight to be attributed to the capital contribution of each spouse to a business, consideration may be given only to that invested capital which is legally traceable to each individual spouse. Capital existing under the right, dominion, and control of one spouse which is invested in the business is presumed to be a capital contribution of that spouse. Sham transactions which do not affect real changes of ownership in capital between spouses in that such transactions do not legally disturb the right, dominion, and control of the assignor or the donor over the capital must be disregarded in determining capital contribution of the recipient spouse.d. Management and control. Participation in the control and management of a business must be distinguished from the regular performance of nonmanagerial services. Contribution of management and control with respect to the business must be of a substantial nature in order to accord it weight in making an allocation of income. Substantial participation in management does not necessarily involve continuous or even frequent presence at the place of business, but it does involve genuine consultation with respect to at least major business decisions, and it presupposes substantial acquaintance with an interest in the operations, problems, and policies of the business, along with sufficient maturity and background of education or experience to indicate an ability to grasp business problems that are appreciably commensurate with the demands of the enterprise concerned. Vague or general statements as to family discussions at home or elsewhere will not be accepted as a sufficient showing of actual consultation.e. Services performed. The amount of services performed by each spouse is a factor to be considered in determining proper allocation of income from a business in which each spouse has an ownership interest. In order to accord weight to services performed by an individual spouse, the services must be of a beneficial nature in that they make a direct contribution to the business. For example, for a business operation, whether it is a retail sales enterprise, farming operation or otherwise, in which both husband and wife have an ownership interest, the services contributed by the spouses must be directly connected with the business operation. Services for the family such as planting and maintaining family gardens, domestic housework, cooking family meals, and routine errands and shopping, are not considered to be services performed or rendered as an incident of or a contribution to the particular business; such activities by a spouse must be disregarded in determining the allocable income attributable to that spouse.This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 422.7.
Iowa Admin. Code r. 701-302.15
ARC 8356B, IAB 12/2/09, effective 1/6/10; Editorial change: IAC Supplement 11/2/22; Editorial change: IAC Supplement 10/18/23