...? (i.e. my income minus rent, food and travel because I stay and work in a city more than 50 miles from my hometown, for 6 months in 2010) then can I still use standard deduction when I file my 1040 for 2011 with my wife 'married filing jointly' ? IN that case, will my portion of the income in the 1040 be the net profit? I am on a 1099 and my wife is on a W2. Thank you to everyone who answered my last question...