My husband is unemployed, has zero income for 2016 and is not filing taxes. I am filing married but separate and as head of household. Can I itemize deductions?

[JaimeG · Accepted solution]

Yes you can Itemize your deductions. What you cannot do is file as Head of Household because you are married. Since your husband does not have any income and it is likely that he will not file a return you can elect the Status of Married Filing Separate and claim his exemption. If he were filing a return, it would be mandatory for him to itemize his as well. 

FYI below is the Standard Deduction Table for Tax Year 2016. The sum of your Itemized deductions must exceed the Standard Deduction amount for your Status in order to be beneficial to your return. Additionally the Married Filing Joint Status offers a higher Standard Deduction amount than Married Filing Separate. 

• Single $6,300.00
• Married Filing Joint or Qualified Widow(er) $12,600.00
• Married Filing Separate $6,300.00
• Head of Household $9300.00
• Dependent $1,050.00

Additionally I have included a link to the TurboTax FAQ explaining the status of Head of Houshold. 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/3288637

[dcrigler]

If I don't claim his exemption, can I still itemize?

[JaimeG]

Yes you can still itemize.

[JaimeG]

Yes you can Itemize your deductions. What you cannot do is file as Head of Household because you are married. Since your husband does not have any income and it is likely that he will not file a return you can elect the Status of Married Filing Separate and claim his exemption. If he were filing a return, it would be mandatory for him to itemize his as well. 

FYI below is the Standard Deduction Table for Tax Year 2016. The sum of your Itemized deductions must exceed the Standard Deduction amount for your Status in order to be beneficial to your return. Additionally the Married Filing Joint Status offers a higher Standard Deduction amount than Married Filing Separate. 

• Single $6,300.00
• Married Filing Joint or Qualified Widow(er) $12,600.00
• Married Filing Separate $6,300.00
• Head of Household $9300.00
• Dependent $1,050.00

Additionally I have included a link to the TurboTax FAQ explaining the status of Head of Houshold. 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/3288637