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New Member
posted May 31, 2019 4:44:13 PM

If I'm single can I claim head of household?

0 9 8223
9 Replies
New Member
May 31, 2019 4:44:15 PM

Answer?

Level 15
May 31, 2019 4:44:16 PM

See answer below

Level 15
May 31, 2019 4:44:18 PM

Here are the requirements for Head of Household -

You have to have a qualifying person, child or relative, to have HOH status and the person has to reside in your home for over one-half the year, plus you must provide over one-half of their support.
You must be Single or be considered unmarried (did not live with your spouse for the last six months of the year)
You must have a qualifying child that meets the requirements as a dependent -

To be a qualifying child -

----- they must not file a joint return with another,
----- the child must be your son, daughter, stepchild, foster chld, brother, sister, half brother, half sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or a descendant of any of them.
----- the child must be under the age of 19 (or 24 if a full time student for any portion of any 5 months during the year),
----- the child must not provide more than 1/2 of their own support, 
----- the child must live with you for more than 1/2 of the year, including temporary absences such as being away for schooling, and
----- they must be US citizens or residents of the US, Canada or Mexico
----- the child must be younger than you unless disabled.

A full time student is someone who met the school's criteria for full time student for any portion of any five months during the year. If in school from 1/1 - 5/1, they would be five months.

If you do not have a qualifying child as a dependent you must have a qualifying relative as a dependent -

To be a qualifying relative (i.e., a dependent),
----- you must provide more than 1/2 of the individuals support
----- they must not earn more than $3,800 in gross income (social security doesn't count) in 2012
----- they must not file a joint return with another
----- they must live with you for mone than 1/2 year
----- they are not a qualifying child of another taxpayer
----- if the relative is your parent, they do not have to reside in your household

See IRS Publication 501 (2011), Exemptions, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information http://www.irs.gov/publications/p501/ar02.html#en_US_2011_publink1000220775

New Member
May 31, 2019 4:44:20 PM

Where is the 1 dependent-self that is allowed at the end of the year. During the year I claim 0(zero), in the past at the end of the year I claim 1-myself. What happened to it. All I see are deductions for dependents other than myself. Please advise.

New Member
May 31, 2019 4:44:22 PM

Can i claim head of house hold

Level 15
May 31, 2019 4:44:23 PM

See answer above

Level 1
Apr 8, 2022 1:01:51 PM

I've been wondering the exact same thing. I just tried to call Turbotax about this but the numbskull I got on the phone was no help. I'm not sure he's ever filed taxes before.

Level 15
Apr 8, 2022 1:11:05 PM

@CharlesAN wrote:

I've been wondering the exact same thing. I just tried to call Turbotax about this but the numbskull I got on the phone was no help. I'm not sure he's ever filed taxes before.

Personal exemptions were removed from the tax code after tax year 2017.

 

See this TurboTax support FAQ for Head of Household requirements - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/family/help/do-i-qualify-for-head-of-household/00/25539

 

If married, see this TurboTax support FAQ for Head of Household requirements - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/married/help/can-a-married-person-claim-head-of-household-filing-status/00/26366

Expert Alumni
Apr 8, 2022 1:15:26 PM

If you are referring to the personal exemption, it was eliminated. This elimination of the personal exemption was a provision in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. A personal exemption is an amount of money that you could deduct for yourself, and for each of your dependents, on your tax return.