I recently got divorced (wasn't finalized until Jan. 2017), but wanted to see if I could file single. My ex-husband is on Social Security disability and his parents claim him on their taxes. I'm losing out on certain tax breaks because I have to file married filing separately. Is it possible for me to file Single or do I have to bite the bullet one more year and file married separately?
You have to bite the bullet one more year. The filing status you use on your 2016 return is based on your marital status as of 12/31/2016. If you were still legally married as of that date, you have to file MFJ or MFS. The fact that he's on disability is irrelevant.
If you and your ex-husband did not live together at any time during the last 6 months of 2016, and if you're paying more than half the cost of providing a home for yourself and a dependent child, you could file HOH.
But you won't be able to file Single until next year, when you do your 2017 return (unless you remarry during the year).
You have to bite the bullet one more year. The filing status you use on your 2016 return is based on your marital status as of 12/31/2016. If you were still legally married as of that date, you have to file MFJ or MFS. The fact that he's on disability is irrelevant.
If you and your ex-husband did not live together at any time during the last 6 months of 2016, and if you're paying more than half the cost of providing a home for yourself and a dependent child, you could file HOH.
But you won't be able to file Single until next year, when you do your 2017 return (unless you remarry during the year).