How do I change my filing status?

[KrisD15]

Please click "Personal Info" and re-answer the interview questions. 

Your filing status determines the rate at which income is taxed. The five filing statuses are: single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head of household, and qualifying widow(er) with dependent child.

Single filing status

If on the last day of the year, you are unmarried or legally separated from your spouse under a divorce or separate maintenance decree and you do not qualify for another filing status.

Married Filing Jointly filing status

You are married and both you and your spouse agree to file a joint return. (On a joint return, you report your combined income and deduct your combined allowable expenses.)

Married Filing Separately filing status

You must be married. This method may benefit you if you want to be responsible only for your own tax or if this method results in less tax than a joint return. If you and your spouse do not agree to file a joint return, you may have to use this filing status.

Head of Household filing status

You must meet the following requirements: 1. You are unmarried or considered unmarried on the last day of the year. 2. You paid more than half the cost of keeping up a home for the year. 3. A qualifying person lived with you in the home for more than half the year (except temporary absences, such as school). However, your dependent parent does not have to live with you.

Qualifying Widow(er) with Dependent Child filing status

If your spouse died in 2014, you can use married filing jointly as your filing status for 2014 if you otherwise qualify to use that status. The year of death is the last year for which you can file jointly with your deceased spouse. You may be eligible to use qualifying widow(er) with dependent child as your filing status for two years following the year of death of your spouse. For example, if your spouse died in 2012, and you have not remarried, you may be able to use this filing status for 2013 and 2014. This filing status entitles you to use joint return tax rates and the highest standard deduction amount (if you do not itemize deductions). This status does not entitle you to file a joint return.

[Andytaxes20]

I thought I was divorced but apparently my exwife, Billyjean Gray is still using my social security number on her tax return.  All I want is the government issued money I’m owed of $600.  I put single on my return and it was rejected due to being claimed a spouse on another return filing separately.  How do I change my status to married filing separately so this $600 is no longer held up

[Irene2805]

If you were legally divorced on December 31, 2020, your filling status should be single.  You should mail in your return, along with a letter of explanation.  If you were not legally divorced on the last day of the year, you should use the married filing separately status.

To change your filing status please follow these steps:

1. Click My Info tab in the black bar on the side of your screen.
2. Click  Edit next to your name. 
3. On the next screen, Your personal info, click Continue.
4. O the Let's confirm your marital status screen, select the radio button for Married.
5. For the question, Do you want to file this return together with your spouse? mark the No button and click Continue.

[eerumm1]

If you were legally married as of December 31 but lived apart from spouse for more than half a year, and are eligible for HOH (meet 5 criteria), do you report as single or married filing status? 

[ToddL99 · Accepted solution]

You file as Head of Household.

Here’s a list of the five filing statuses:

1. Single. This status normally applies if you aren’t married. It applies if you are divorced or legally separated under state law.
    
2. Married Filing Jointly. If you’re married, you and your spouse can file a joint tax return. If your spouse died in 2015, you can often file a joint return for that year.
    
3. Married Filing Separately. A married couple can choose to file two separate tax returns. This may benefit you if it results in less tax owed than if you file a joint tax return. You may want to prepare your taxes both ways before you choose. You can also use it if you want to be responsible only for your own tax.
    
4. Head of Household. In most cases, this status applies if you are not married, but there are some special rules. For example, you must have paid more than half the cost of keeping up a home for yourself and a qualifying person. Don’t choose this status by mistake. Be sure to check all the rules.
    
5. Qualifying Widow(er) with Dependent Child. This status may apply to you if your spouse died during 2013 or 2014 and you have a dependent child. Other conditions also apply.

See Choosing the correct filing status from the IRS.

[mruiz2000]

I am doing my taxes online. but i need to correct the filing status to filing seperatly, i have clicked on the wrong status to filing joint. Can you please help me

[MichelleLO]

To change your filing status:

• Go to "My Info" on the left-hand side of the screen in the black bar. 
• Select "Edit" next to the current selected status.
• Select the status that applies to you

For more information about filing statuses, please see the below TurboTax help article. 

What is my tax filing status (single, married, etc.)?

[Pamela Mason]

I checked "filing jointly" by mistake. How do I change it?

[xmasbaby0]

@Pamela Mason What do you need to change it to?   You indicate your marital status in My Info.   It will ask if you were married in 2022.  Answer yes or no.  If you say yes, the next question will be whether you want to file together with your spouse.  Yes for a joint return, No for married filing separately.

[BrittanyS]

You can change your filing status in TurboTax by following these steps in TurboTax Online:

1. Go to Personal Information on the left-hand side of the screen.
2. Select Edit to change the filing status

The IRS filing statuses are listed below to help you determine which status suits your current situation:

• Single Filing - on the last day of the year you were unmarried or legally separated
• Married Filing Joint - You are currently married and both you and your spouse agree to file a joint return
• Married Filing Separately - You are currently married but you and your spouse choose to file a separate return
• Head of Household - You are unmarried on the last day of the year and paid more than half the household expenses.  You have a qualifying dependent living with you for more than half the year.
• Qualifying Widower - If your spouse passed away you can claim married filing joint the year of passing.  For the following 2 years, you can claim qualifying widower, if you have a dependent child you can claim on your return and you have not remarried.

Please see the link explaining Filing Statuses:

Filing Status

@Pamela Mason