When is it a better idea to use the married filing separately status over the married filing jointly status?

The reason that filing as a joint taxpayer is the most advantageous is because you are offered a better standard deduction, and the tax brackets are more favorable. However, in some cases, where both spouses earn around the same amount of income, it can be beneficial to file as married filing separately. If you and your spouse earn around the same, you should calculate your taxes on both returns to see which is more advantageous to your situation.