turbotax icon
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Announcements
Close icon
Do you have a TurboTax Online account?

We'll help you get started or pick up where you left off.

x
Do you have an Intuit account?

Do you have an Intuit account?

You'll need to sign in or create an account to connect with an expert.

Can my wife and I both claim Head of Household?

"Tax Court denied the filing status because a husband slept in his wife’s home for ONE night during those 6 months." nut no citation given
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://taxmama.com/tax-quips/filing-status/">http://taxmama.com/tax-quips/filing-status/</a>

Can my wife and I both claim Head of Household?

So.. how did you file? i have been separated from my husband for 18 months. He did not live with us at all in 2024. He has another house he rents and wants to file head of household. I want to file head of household on mine. we both pay our own bills.

Can my wife and I both claim Head of Household?

If you each have a different qualifying person then each can file as head of household. 

Vanessa A
Expert Alumni

Can my wife and I both claim Head of Household?

Yes, it is possible, if you both have your own home and have not lived with each other for at least the last 6 months of the year and have a dependent you support (it could not be a child that you have joint custody with as the child would have to live with you more than 6 months) you would both be able to file as Head of Household. 

So if you each have a child that is your Qualifying Child or have a Qualifying Relative, then yes, you could both file as Head of Household. 

 

The following criteria must be met to claim someone as a qualifying child:

  • Your child (including adopted and foster children), your sibling, or a descendent of any of them.
  • Age 18 or younger at the end of the tax year OR under 24 (and younger than you and your spouse) if they are a full-time student
  • Lived with you for more than 6 months during the tax year
  • They did not provide more than half of their own support (social security does not count)
  • They did not file a joint return, unless it was to claim a refund

To claim someone as a Qualifying Relative, they must be:

  • Your child ( including step children, adoptive children and foster children) or a descendent of them
  • Your sibling (including half siblings) or a child of your sibling or a sibling-in-law
  • Your parent or grandparents, including step parents and in laws
  • Any other person that lived with you for the entire tax year
  • Not a qualifying child of another taxpayer
  • Someone that you provided over half of their support for during the tax year
  • Has less than $5,050 in income (not counting social security)

 

If one of you do not have a Qualifying child or Qualifying Relative your only option if you are not filing a joint return would be to file as Married Filing Separately.  If you do this, you will need to enter the other persons name and social security number on your return and select that you are filing separately. 

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post
**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"

Unlock tailored help options in your account.

message box icon

Get more help

Ask questions and learn more about your taxes and finances.

Post your Question