Head of household vs married filing jointly

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
June 7, 2019
7 replies
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Best answer by DoninGA

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.

DoninGA

Level 15

What is your question?

SweetieJean

Alumni - Champ

Do you live with your spouse?

slc3035Author

Level 2

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

slc3035Author

Level 2

Yes

slc3035Author

Level 2

Thank you

ccortnee91

Level 2

single vs head of household

DoninGA

Answer

Level 15

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.

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.

golf4joe-603Locksmith

Level 2

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?.