If you have lived apart from your spouse for at least the last six months of 2025 you could file as Head of Household. If you have income of your own from working and have had custody of the children then you can file Head of Household and get the child-related refundable credits like child tax credit and earned income credit, as well as the childcare credit if you paid someone to take care of your children so you could work. If you file married filing separately you are not eligible for earned income credit or the childcare credit, and your standard deduction is less. Head of Household is better for you.
Am I Head of Household?
https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-filing-status/qualify-head-household...
If you qualify as Head of Household, when you enter your marital status (single or married filing separately) into MyInfo, and then enter your qualifying dependent, TurboTax will offer HOH as your filing status.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/taxation/married-person-claim-head-house...
**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.**
