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Level 1
October 21, 2019
Question

Amend Tax Return

  • October 21, 2019
  • 1 reply
  • 7 views

On my 2018 tax return I mistakenly set myself as Head of Household when it should have been my husband.  This affected our return.  Can we need amend it? or is it too late?

    1 reply

    DoninGA
    Level 15
    Level 15
    October 21, 2019

    If you are legally married and living together in the same household at any time during the last six months of 2018 then you can NOT file as Head of Household, you can only file your tax return as either Married Filing Jointly or Married Filing Separately.

     

    If that is your situation then you will have to amend the 2018 tax return to change your filing status.

    See this TurboTax support FAQ for amending a tax return originally completed and filed using TurboTax - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/amending/help/how-do-i-amend-a-return-in-turbotax/00/27579

    VolvoGirl
    Level 15
    October 21, 2019

    And to be clear neither one of you can file Head of Household. So how did you actually file?  Did you file a separate return as Head of Household just for yourself?  Or file a Joint return?  

     

    Did he file his own return?  Something doesn't make sense.  Did you file as Head of Household or just mean you put yourself down as primary on a Joint return?

    Level 15
    October 21, 2019

    Do you mean you just listed your own name first on the tax return, but filed as married filing jointly?  Putting your name first does not make you Head of Household.  Look at your Form 1040 and see exactly what it says just above your names--there is a line above your names where you check your filing status.

     

    Changing the order of the names on a joint return can cause confusion with the IRS, though, so you should try to remain consistent from year to year.

     

    ORDER OF NAMES ON A JOINT RETURN  https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901551-does-the-order-of-the-names-on-a-joint-return-matter

     

    **Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**