I have 2 kids and a live-in boyfriend. I made more in the year and he made too much for me to claim him as a dependent. Is it more beneficial for me to file as single or head of household?

[DoninGA]

Head of Household, of course.

[Phillip1 · Accepted solution]

Filing as head of household is a more advantageous filing status. 

However, in order to claim head of household filing status, you need to make sure that you paid for more than half of the cost of upkeep for your home. If you and your boyfriend share household expenses, you will not be eligible for head of household filing status if your share of the household expense was 50% or less. 

I recommend filling out worksheet 1 on page 8 of IRS Publication 501 to make sure your share of household expenses was enough to meet the qualifications for head of household filing status.