If I am not legally married and have dependants would I file single or head of household?

[Texas Roger · Accepted solution]

If you meet all the requirements to file as Head of Household, that is generally a better filing status than Single. TurboTax will generally recommend HOH if you qualify for it. The recommendation will not occur until you enter the dependents and answer other qualifying questions.

Head of Household filing status qualifications:

1. You are not married or “considered unmarried” on the last day of the year. You are considered unmarried if you lived apart from your spouse the entire last 6 months of the year.

2. If "considered unmarried" you file a separate return from your spouse.

3. You paid more than half the cost of keeping up your home  for the year.

4. You have a qualifying child (whether or not you claim the dependency exemption) or you claim a dependency exemption for a “qualifying person”  who is related to you and who lived with you in the home for more than half the year. An exception is a parent does not have to live with you to be a qualifying person.

[Hal_Al]

Note that not everyone who qualifies as your dependent is a qualifying person for Head of Household. A common example is if you live with your girlfriend and her child. You cannot be HoH, because your dependents are not related to you.