@kashyua wrote:
Oh ok. We are not legally married, just the cultural way. That's why I called him my husband. But we file separately because of those reason's. I just wanted trying to understand because it's the first time I've not worked in 16 years. Thank you!
If you are not legally married, then:
1. You are required to file if your income is more than $13,850, or if you had self-employment income from a side gig of more than $400. You could file if you earned less, but are not required. (You may get a refund of withheld amounts.)
2. If your partner is the bio parent of at least one of the children, he can claim them as dependents on his tax return. If he pays more than half the cost of keeping up the house and claims at least one child, he can file as head of household which has lower taxes than single.
4. If you had some income from working (but less than usual), the only way to know the absolute best way to file (which child to put on which tax return to get the best credits and biggest refunds) is to test different combinations. You could file as single with 0, 1, 2, or 3 dependents, and your partner could file as single with 0, 1, 2, or 3 dependents, or can file as head of household as long as he claims at least 1 dependent that he is the bio-parent of.
