The 5 Filing Statuses - Get it Right!

[KarenL]

The first step to maximizing your tax refund - and possibly keeping the IRS at bay - is to use the correct filing status on your tax returns. If only it were as simple as choosing Single or Married. But alas, there are a whopping five (5) filing statuses and it can become confusing. Here’s a quick overview, but read the links below to get all the details to ensure you make the correct choice!

Single

• unmarried, or considered unmarried (legal separation, divorce)
• you don’t qualify for any other filing status

Head of Household (HOH)

• legally unmarried, or considered unmarried 
• you MUST have a “qualifying person” (qualifying child or qualifying relative)
• paid for over half of the upkeep of a home for the year

Married Filing Joint (MFJ) 

• legally married on December 31st
• your spouse agrees to file a joint tax return
• your spouse passed away during the tax year

Married Filing Separately (MFS) 

• legally married option vs. MFJ
• usually increases overall tax and reduces or eliminates certain credits/deductions
• might benefit you in certain situations
• rarely beneficial in Community Property States

Qualified Surviving Spouse (QSS) - formerly Qualified Widow(er)

• up to two (2) years after the year your spouse passed (the year of passing is MFJ)
• you have a qualifying child or stepchild
• you didn’t remarry

PRO TIP: States may have filing status options that differ from the federal (IRS) ones. 

• Guide to Filing Taxes as Head of Household - Everything you need to know about the HOH status.
• Video: How to Prove Head of Household for the IRS - Yep, sometimes you gotta prove it!
• How Should You and Your Spouse File Taxes? Married Filing Jointly vs Separately - Great insight and examples!
• Is it better for a married couple to file jointly or separately? - This one specifically addresses the potential loss of tax credits if filing separately.
• When Married Filing Separately Will Save You Taxes - It’s rare, but worth considering.
• How can I compare Married Filing Jointly with Married Filing Separately? - You can do this in the downloaded (desktop)  version of TurboTax.
• Married Filing Separately in community property states - (Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin)
• BONUS: Five Tax Tips for Community Property States - Ohh…good advice in this one!

If you need tax advice or have questions that aren't answered in the links above, please ask in our Taxes forum that best fits your needs!