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New Member
posted Dec 6, 2022 12:46:04 PM

If my divorce was final 20 years ago, can I file single, or do I still need to file as divorced?

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4 Replies
Level 15
Dec 6, 2022 12:52:40 PM

Your filing status is Single if you have not remarried.   

Divorced is not a filing status but is used by program to ask a series of questions concerning your current status.

Level 15
Dec 6, 2022 12:55:25 PM

You have been Single for 20 years.  Haven't you been filing as Single since your divorce?  Unless you have a child and qualify for Head of Household.  

Level 15
Dec 6, 2022 8:56:53 PM

You are mixing up marital status and filing status. TurboTax asks you for your marital status, then it recommends a filing status for you. When it asks for your marital status, you should select divorced as long as you have not remarried. It will probably select single as your filing status. Your marital status does not appear on your tax return.


You can look at your past tax returns to see what filing status was used. Your filing status is indicated by a checkbox at the very top of the first page of your Form 1040. Since 2018 the checkboxes for filing status have been above your name.

 

Level 15
Dec 7, 2022 5:56:45 AM

Agreed ... you are mixing up MARITAL status and FILING status.   Divorced is a marital status not a filing status.  Nowhere on the tax return can you find divorced on it.  If you wish you can enter either single or divorced in the MY INFO section of the interview section since it will not make a difference.   It is really only used to direct you to the correct interview screens if you will be filing as Head of Household and not single ... but again it changes nothing on the return.