I live abroad and have an NRA spouse and allowed to file HOH because I have two children, qualifying dependents. It seems the only way I can get TT to select HOH for is for me to give false info, ig, didn't live with him for part of the year or whole yea

[Hal_Al]

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[bine22 · Accepted solution]

With an NRA spouse you indeed have the option to file as HoH, even if you lived together after July 1st. In previous versions TT would get this right after entering information for the NRA spouse, however, it doesn't seem to do it this year. So I would suggest that you enter that you didn't live with your spouse during the last half of the year. However, you can only do that, if you never made the choice to treat her as resident alien

[mildre_a]

Thanks.  I was just concerned about giving false info on Turbo Tax.  I guess if audited, the IRS should only care that the return info is accurate.  This solves the HOH but still can't efile  as TT insists on spouse SSN number so have to print and write in NRA spouse and mail.  Another thing I tried which completely eliminates reporting of the spouse and allows HOH and allows to efile is to mark divorced or legally separated.  I don't see a difference between doing that or marking that I didn't live with my spouse during the last half of the year.  They are just both ways of getting TT to work for my case and file an accurate return.

[bine22]

the only info transferring to the return will be the filing status, so it would be fine, if you say you are divorced or single or not living together.  You could even get a personal exemption for your NRA spouse, if you apply for an ITIN for her.

[2muchTax4Mom]

Thanks! This is helpful.