Filing single vs RDP filed separately · 🏠 Lower Taxes w/ Ryan

Filing single vs RDP filed separately

I'm considering entering a registered domestic partnership with my partner and want to understand potential tax implications before we do this.

We live in California, which I understand is a community property state. I understand that federally, we would file as single because RDP is not recognized at that level. However, in California, it looks like we would have to file as DFP filing separately.

We would like to keep things clean and file independently at the state level if possible. I read online that if we opt out of community property in a pre-nup, we can file taxes essentially as single people, without needing to split our earned assets 50/50 which seems like a headache. Is this right?

I have some W-2, unemployment, and 1099 income this year. I'm also closing on 2 STRs (one of which I'm aiming to do STR loophole with) independently and understand the properties are considered my property pre-domestic partnership. Revenue from the STRs should be considered mine, separately, if we opt out of community property via pre-nup. My partner has just W-2 income.

Thanks in advance for your input on this!

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Filing single vs RDP filed separately