Knowledge system is not enabled for this account. Redirecting to LiveHelpNow... Head of Household Filing Status - Print

Head of Household Filing Status

Article ID: 34233  

Question
Head of Household Filing Status

Answer

This filing status is for unmarried individuals who provide a home for certain other persons. You can check the box on line 4 only if you were unmarried or legally separated under a decree of divorce or separate maintenance at the end of the year and either Test 1 or Test 2 below applies:

Test 1:
You paid over half the cost of keeping up a home that was the main home for all of the tax year of your parent whom you claim as a dependent, except under a multiple support agreement. Your parent did not have to live with you.

Test 2:
You paid over half the cost of keeping up a home in which you lived and in which one of hte follwoing also lived for more than half of the year:

  1. Any person whom you can claim as a dependent. But do not include:
    • your qualifying child whom you claim as your dependdent based on the rule for Children of divorced or separated parents that begins on page 18 of Form 1040 instructions.
    • Any person who is your dependent only because he or she lived with you for all of the year, or
    • any person you claimed as a dependent under a multiple support agreement. See page 15 of Form 1040 instructions.
  2. Your unmarried qualifying child who is not your dependent
  3. Your married qualifying child who is not your dependent only because you can be claimed as a dependent on someone else's current year tax return.
  4. Your child who is neither your dependent nor your qualifying child because of teh rule for Children of divorced or separated parents.

If the child is not your dependent, enter the child's name on line 4. If you do not enter the name, it will take the IRS longer to process your return, which will delay any refund disbursement.

For more information, see Form 1040 instructions page 14.


Article Details
Views: 694 Created on: Jun 15, 2013