| Pub. 555, Community Property |
2004 Tax Year |
Introductory Material
This is archived information that pertains only to the 2004 Tax Year. If you
are looking for information for the current tax year, go to the Tax Prep Help Area.
Important Reminder
Photographs of missing children. The Internal Revenue Service is a proud partner with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Photographs of
missing children
selected by the Center may appear in this publication on pages that would otherwise be blank. You can help bring these children
home by looking at the
photographs and calling 1–800–THE–LOST (1–800–843–5678) if you recognize a child.
Introduction
This publication is for married taxpayers who are domiciled in one of the following community property states:
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Arizona,
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California,
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Idaho,
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Louisiana,
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Nevada,
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New Mexico,
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Texas,
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Washington, or
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Wisconsin.
This publication does not address the federal tax treatment of income or property subject to the “community property” election under
Alaska state laws.
Community property laws affect how you figure your income on your federal income tax return if you are married, live in a
community property state
or country, and file separate returns. Your tax usually will be less by filing a joint return if you are married. Sometimes
it can be to your
advantage to file separate returns. If you and your spouse file separate returns, you have to determine your community income
and your separate
income.
Community property laws also affect your basis in property you inherit from a married person who lived in a community property
state. See
Death of spouse, later.
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