Why can't I choose my own preferred filing status?

[jmmaciel61]

I have filed as head of household for years, but Turbo Tax has me as single with no option to change, why can't I file as head of household for 2024?

[xmasbaby0]

Are you claiming a qualified dependent?

Am I Head of Household?

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-filing-status/qualify-head-household...

• What is a "qualifying person" for Head of Household?

If you qualify as Head of Household, when you enter your marital status (single or married filing separately) into MyInfo, and then enter your qualifying dependent, TurboTax will offer HOH as your filing status.

[jmmaciel61]

Yes, I am single and I have 3 qualifying dependents.    Yes, I agree Turbo Tax should give me the option of choosing HOH but that's my problem.....they do not.  They automatically chose to call me single ignoring my dependents just because they do not live with me

[jmmaciel61]

And further, since when does or should a tax prep software program, be the one to choose a person's filing status for them and provide no option for the taxpayer to change it

[xmasbaby0]

Who are the dependents?   Some dependents do not have to live with you, but they must meet the criteria to be qualified dependents.   How are they related to you?

What is a "qualifying person" for Head of Household?

by TurboTax•1306•Updated 2 months ago

For the purposes of the Head of Household filing status, a qualifying person is a child, parent, or relative who meets certain conditions, listed below.

The conditions are stricter than those for claiming a dependent. For example, you might be able to claim a roommate as your dependent, but never as a qualifying person for Head of Household status.

A qualifying child would be:

• Your child (including legally adopted), stepchild, foster child, sibling, half-sibling, step-sibling, or a descendant of any of them (for example, your grandchild or niece) AND
• Permanently and totally disabled OR under the age of 19 as of December 31, 2024 (under 24 if a full-time student) and younger than you (or your spouse, if filing jointly) AND
• Lived with you for more than half the year
  • AND
  • Single (or if the child is married, you'd have to qualify to claim them as a dependent even if you're not going to claim them as such)

  A child that's too old to qualify as a child might be able to qualify as a relative for Head of Household. A qualifying relative would be:

  • Your mother or father (including your stepfather or stepmother), if you're qualified to claim them as a dependent (even if you're not claiming them as such) OR
  • A relative related by blood, legal adoption, or marriage other than a parent (see the full list of qualifying relatives below) AND lived with you for more than half the year AND that you're able to claim as a dependent (even if you're not claiming them as such)
    • Qualifying relatives:
      • Your brother, sister, half brother, half sister, stepbrother, or stepsister
      • Your grandparent, or other direct ancestor, but not foster parent
      • A son or daughter of your brother or sister
      • A son or daughter of your half brother or half sister
      • A brother or sister of your father or mother
      • Your son-in-law, daughter-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law
•  

[jmmaciel61]

My dependents are my 3 grandchildren, who are single, in school and for whom I provide more than half of their support

[MaryK4]

For Head of Household, generally, the qualifying person must live with you for more than half of the year. @jmmaciel61