I was separated from my husband more than six months last year. We aren't divorced yet. What filing status do I qualify for?

 
NewGuy
New Member

Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Since you are not divorced yet, you can file married filing separately, married filing jointly (if you can agree to file with your husband), or you can file head of household if you meet the following:

https://www.irs.gov/publications/p501/ar02.html#en_US_2016_publink1000220780
Considered Unmarried

To qualify for head of household status, you must be either unmarried or considered unmarried on the last day of the year. You are considered unmarried on the last day of the tax year if you meet all the following tests.

  1. You file a separate return. A separate return includes a return claiming married filing separately, single, or head of household filing status.

  2. You paid more than half the cost of keeping up your home for the tax year.

  3. Your spouse didn't live in your home during the last 6 months of the tax year. Your spouse is considered to live in your home even if he or she is temporarily absent due to special circumstances. See Temporary absences ..., later.

  4. Your home was the main home of your child, stepchild, or foster child for more than half the year. (See Home of qualifying person ..., later, for rules applying to a child's birth, death, or temporary absence during the year.)

  5. You must be able to claim an exemption for the child. However, you meet this test if you can't claim the exemption only because the noncustodial parent can claim the child using the rules described later in Children of divorced or separa... under Qualifying Child or in Support Test for Children of D... under Qualifying Relative. The general rules for claiming an exemption for a dependent are explained later under Exemptions for Dependents ....