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slc3035
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Head of household vs married filing jointly

 
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Head of household vs married filing jointly

If you are married and living with your spouse at any time during the last six months of the year you cannot file as Head of Household.

When you are married you should be filing as Married Filing Jointly even if one spouse has little or no income.  You receive the highest standard deduction of $12,600 and you each receive a personal exemption of $4,050.

Even if you could file as HOH the standard deduction is $9,300, which is far less than the standard deduction for Married Filing Jointly.

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17 Replies

Head of household vs married filing jointly

What is your question?

Head of household vs married filing jointly

Do you live with your spouse?
slc3035
New Member

Head of household vs married filing jointly

Y can't I file head of household married wife doesn't work
slc3035
New Member

Head of household vs married filing jointly

Yes
slc3035
New Member

Head of household vs married filing jointly

Thank you

Head of household vs married filing jointly

single vs head of household

Head of household vs married filing jointly

If you are married and living with your spouse at any time during the last six months of the year you cannot file as Head of Household.

When you are married you should be filing as Married Filing Jointly even if one spouse has little or no income.  You receive the highest standard deduction of $12,600 and you each receive a personal exemption of $4,050.

Even if you could file as HOH the standard deduction is $9,300, which is far less than the standard deduction for Married Filing Jointly.

Head of household vs married filing jointly

Hello, I am single and 60years old, full-time employee. My parents live with me and are 81 and 84. My father works part-time with no pension and just informed me his gross income for 2020 was $12,511. He works part time for a major car rental agency at the Airport. My Mother does not work and has a small pension of under $500 a month. They both collect SSI. I pay the mortgage, utilities and taxes for my house

 

My Father files a Joint return.

 

They have been living with me for 10 plus years now...........

 

Can I still file as Head of Household?.

DawnC
Employee Tax Expert

Head of household vs married filing jointly

Unfortunately, no.  Neither of your parents are a qualifying person which you need in order to claim the Head of Household status.  

 

@golferinwindsor  

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Head of household vs married filing jointly

for 2020 their gross income is too high and they file a joint return. both of these situations means you can't claim either of them as a dependent. without dependents you can't claim HOH status.  you may have been filing wrong for multiple years. 

Head of household vs married filing jointly

This was my first attempt of Head of Household. 

I was just informed that if my Father files as married/filing single he would owe taxes on $111 dollars?. Which is about $25 dollars. I would gladly give him the $25 or so to get $3000.  

 

Thanks,

Joe

 

Hal_Al
Level 15

Head of household vs married filing jointly

Even if your father filed as Married Filing Separately (MFS), your mother could still not be your dependent (and HoH qualifying person). Her small pension is more than the $4300 income limit.

Head of household vs married filing jointly

That was a guess, I will find out the exact amount she is getting. If it is lower than $4300 I would be ok?

Head of household vs married filing jointly

She gets $205 per month or $2460 a year

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