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New Member
posted Jun 4, 2019 12:55:48 PM

Why is option for head of household not showing up on my tax return

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5 Replies
Intuit Alumni
Jun 4, 2019 12:55:49 PM

There is no option for head of household filing status in Turbo Tax. Instead there are qualifying questions that must be answered. You must be able to select single for your filing status. That is, unless you have been separated from your spouse for the last six months of the year. Then you will choose married filing separately.

You must meet the qualifications for filing as head of household. One of those, is to have a qualifying dependent. You must also have provided more than half of the household living expenses for you and the dependnt. Please view the Turbo Tax FAQ below, to ensure that you qualify for this filing status.

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/tax-tips/General-Tax-Tips/Guide-to-Filing-Taxes-as-Head-of-Hou...

Once you have entered your dependents information,  you will be prompted to answer two questions that will qualify or disqualify you for head of household filing status. The two questions are:

1. "Did a relative live in your home and help support your child?" If you answer yes to this question, then you must have had a higher income than that other person or you don't qualify for head of household.

2. "Did you pay more than half the cost to keep up your home in 2016?" If you can answer yes to this question, then you should qualify for head of household.

New Member
Jan 26, 2024 8:41:44 PM

I qualify  for head of household.  The option  does not come up

Level 15
Jan 26, 2024 8:44:06 PM

@Velvet143 Do you have a qualified dependent?   Were you unmarried or considered to be unmarried for the last six months of 2023?

 

Am I Head of Household?

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894553-do-i-qualify-for-head-of-household

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2900097-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.

New Member
Feb 8, 2024 10:10:16 AM

Just keep going with filling out the forms online even though it just lists you as divorced or single or whatever. After you fill in your child’s information, it will ask you  questions about how much of the year did they live with you and is anyone else claiming them, etc.. Then turbo tax says “yay! You qualify for tax breaks - you are ahead of Household”…. It eventually gets there and changes it automatically. I had the same issues.

Level 15
Feb 8, 2024 10:15:00 AM

@jessicams43 You are right---users need to go through the screens and answer everything in the interview questions.   Head of Household gets confusing and tricky for many people because they incorrectly believe they can file HOH when claiming a GF or BF or the children of a BF or GF---and that does not work for HOH.    The qualified dependent  for HOH has to be related.