Does it matter who was head of household in last year taxes?

[xmasbaby0]

What do you mean by head of household?   Are you asking about the actual filing status called Head of Household which has a very specific meaning?   Or are you asking about whose name is first on the tax return?  Those are very different issues.

First---be clear on what Head of Household really means:

Am I Head of Household?

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894553-do-i-qualify-for-head-of-household

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2900097-what-is-a-qualifying-person-for-head-of-household

If you qualify as Head of Household, when you enter your filing status (single or married filing separately) into MyInfo, and then enter your qualifying dependent, TurboTax will offer HOH as your filing status.

If you are asking about changing the order of the names on a joint return:

ORDER OF NAMES ON A JOINT RETURN  https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901551-does-the-order-of-the-names-on-a-joint-return-matter

[Opus 17]

If you are living together unmarried, the person who can claim HOH is the person who paid more than half of the total household expenses.  If that person changed from year to year, it's ok to change who claims HOH.

If you are married, you aren't allowed to claim HOH unless you are separated and live apart, and in that case, to claim HOH you must pay more than half the cost of the home where you live, and claim at least one qualifying child who lived with you more than half the year.  If the child lived with a different parent more than half the year, that might change who can claim HOH. 

[SweetieJean]

If you are living together unmarried, the person who can claim HOH is the person who paid more than half of the total household expenses.  If that person changed from year to year, it's ok to change who claims HOH.

However, that person must still have a qualifying dependent (usually a child).  Your Significant Other does not alone qualify you for HOH, nor does his/her child if you are not the child's other parent.

[Hal_Al]

Q. Does it matter who was head of household in last year taxes?

A. No.  If your family circumstances, you can change who is HoH this year. But you do need to meet the rules.  You can't just change because "it comes out better for you".