Does husband and wife have to be present to file a joint tax return?

No, you both don't have to be there but whom ever takes them in, the other spouse will need to stop by at some point to sign before they can be submitted.

We usually gather all the paperwork together at home. I go and do the filing, and my husband stops by after work to sign the forms (where his signature is required). We never had a problem with this arrangement, and have done it for 15 yrs. Just call the local branch, and ask if they can do the same for you due to scheduling issues.

I've always gone with HR up til last yr and now I use Turbotax. HR did require signatures at the end, though all but everythng else can be done by one person and they'll hold the paperwork til the spouse can come in. Online filing simply requires both spouses SSN and driver's license numbers.

You both dont have to be present but you both have to sign before the taxes can be filed.

If the present taxes exceed the annual exclusion quantity, then there will without doubt be some penalties concerned. Nevertheless, i have not had a excellent deal of expertise with present taxes... The IRS.GOV website online will surely have what you have to see what you will have to do, and what your father should have accomplished.

IRS rules are that each individual signing must do so in front of the electronic processor. But, with the self preparers and h&r block and yada anything can and does happen.

It would take two minutes to call them up and ask.

yes...H&R Block will know anybody do taxes will know,