Can I change my filing status from, Filing jointly 2018 to house hold 2019 and now back to filing jointly for 2020 ? Is it going to cause any issues?

[DoninGA · Accepted solution]

You can change your filing status each tax year as long as you are eligible for the filing status you enter.

[mfss03]

To be honest, the tax office where I do my taxes was the one who changed it to house hold. I did not even know how to qualify for houehold. Now, I am the one trying to do my taxes for 2020, I wan to do filing jointly because I do not think that "Household" Really fits me and my wife.

[DoninGA · Accepted solution]

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@mfss03 wrote:

To be honest, the tax office where I do my taxes was the one who changed it to house hold. I did not even know how to qualify for houehold. Now, I am the one trying to do my taxes for 2020, I wan to do filing jointly because I do not think that "Household" Really fits me and my wife.

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There are very specific requirements to have Head of Household filing status when you are legally married.

1. You won't be filing jointly with your spouse
2. Your spouse didn't live in your home after June (temporary absences due to illness, school, vacation, business, or military service don't count)
3. Your home was your child's, stepchild's, or foster child's main home for more than half the year (non-child dependents in your home don't qualify)
4. You paid more than half the costs of keeping up your home during the tax year
5. You meet the qualifications to claim the child as your dependent, even if the other (noncustodial) parent is actually claiming the child as a dependent on their return

[mfss03]

I believe the tax office lied that I qualified for household. Should I inform the IRS, or just file as jointly for this year?

[DoninGA]

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@mfss03 wrote:

I believe the tax office lied that I qualified for household. Should I inform the IRS, or just file as jointly for this year?

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You can file as Married Filing Jointly in 2020.

[mfss03]

Thank you so much for all the replies and the help. I really feel guilty due to the tax office filling as household. i believe they did that to increase my tax return.

Thank you again.