Married filing separate - itemized deductions

[kabbabkkg]

I have a couple that are married filing separate and one spouse has itemized deductions.  And I just realized this but the itemized spouse the system is picking up the itemized deductions and the other spouse it is picking up the standard deduction.  Why would it not pick up the standard deduction for the itemized spouse when the deduction is more?  And do I split the itemized deductions in half and put half on each return. 

Thanks  for your help in this.

[IRonMaN]

What one spouse does, the other has to follow.  You can't take itemized for one and the standard deduction for the other.  Split where applicable, otherwise take whatever they each individually paid for.

[kabbabkkg]

 The spouse who has the itemized deductions is the one who paid the for the deductions the other spouse did not pay anything.  It is mortgage interest, real estate taxes and donations and she the spouse with the itemized deductions pays for all of this.

thanks

[Just-Lisa-Now-]

The other spouse has to itemize as well, even if their itemized deductions are zero.  You need to check this box on the Fed Info Worksheet

[kabbabkkg]

One more question can they choose to take the standard deduction

[Just-Lisa-Now-]

Only if they both take the standard deduction.