<prompt> Human: Ive always done my own taxes with Turbotax Free when single and found them easy. I got married in July, so Im filing jointly for the first time. Am using Turbotax Deluxe online version.Our combined AGI is 74,600. We own a house. Nothing too complicated.I entered my W2 and it calculated about 2500 refund. I then entered the wifes W2, the mortgage interest, the property tax, student loan interest and charitable donations. The refund amount didnt change at all.I decided to clear all data and entered in the wifes w2 first. It now said about 3600 refund, but when I next entered my w2, it dropped back down to 2500.Cleared data again decided to file separately. This time its giving me a refund of about 600 with just my W2. The wife doesnt want me to use Turbotax and instead pay a tax service whatever they charge her last tax person charged her about 250.Is it more beneficial to file jointly? Why didnt our refund go up any once adding in our deductions, which total about 7000? When adding those deductions while filing single, it would normally make the refund amount jump.I just find it odd that the refund amount stayed exactly the same the first time I entered in all info completely from the very first W2.Any ideas?  <response>: If your situation is as simple as you say it is, then there is no reason to spend the money on a tax professional. Income taxes are not nearly as mysterious and confusing as they seem on the surface once you break it down and understand how it works. Income - Adjustments Adjusted Gross Income AGI you likely wont have any adjustmentsAGI - Deductions Taxable Income this is what you pay taxes on according to the 2015 tax schedule Deductions lower the amount of money you pay taxes on. The first type of deduction is the exemption which allows you to reduce the amount of money you pay taxes on based on the number of qualifying people in your house. The personal and household exemption for 2015 is 4000 per qualifying household member. Deductions also include the greater of your standard deduction and itemized deductions. For 2015, the standard deduction for married filing jointly is 12,600. Itemized deductions include such things as those listed such as charitable contributions and mortgage interest. Gross Taxes Due - Credits Net Tax Liability credits reduce the amount of taxes you owe dollar for dollarNet Tax Liability - Taxes Paid during the year Tax Refund or Taxes Owed 