Why sign in to the Community?

  • Submit a question
  • Check your notifications
Sign in to the Community or Sign in to TurboTax and start working on your taxes
New Member
posted Mar 5, 2025 1:22:29 PM

Filing Married But Separated Head Of Household

I am married but my wife and I separated last year. We haven't gone through divorce yet.  We are going to file Married but filing seperate. We did not live together the majority of last year. She lived in one home that is under both our names and I lived in another home in a different city that is under my name. The home she lives in is under both our names and she is paying for the bills and mortgage. The home I live in is under my name and everything is paid off. The bills are under my name.

 

My question is, can she file Head of Household in the home she is living in and Can I file Head of Household in the home I am living in since its two completely different addresses in different cities.

0 2 988
2 Replies
Level 15
Mar 5, 2025 1:32:41 PM

In order to file as Head of Household you need to have a qualified dependent.  Do you have a dependent child living with you?  

 

Am I Head of Household?

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-filing-status/qualify-head-household-2021/L0NxUtVc2_US_en_US?uid=m5x19jkx

 

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.

 

Expert Alumni
Mar 5, 2025 2:00:38 PM

It depends.  in order to file as Head of Household, you would have to have an eligible dependent.  If you do not have an eligible dependent, then no, you cannot file as head of household. If only one of you have an eligible dependent, then that person would be able to claim head of household while the other would have to file as married filing separately.  

 

Additionally, you said you did not live together for the majority of last year.  The criteria is that you can not live together for any part of the last 6 months of the year.