The head of household status can lead to a lower taxable income and greater potential refund than the single filing status, but to qualify, you must meet certain criteria. To file as head of household, you must: Pay for more than half of the household expenses. Be considered unmarried for the tax year, and.
Can I claim head of household?
To claim head-of-household status, you must be legally single, pay more than half of household expenses and have either a qualified dependent living with you for at least half the year or a parent for whom you pay more than half their living arrangements.
What happens if you file Head of Household incorrectly?
If you incorrectly claim head-of-household filing status, the ultimate outcome can be as painless as paying some additional tax dollars and interest. The IRS indicates that it will probably take about a month to review your matter after it questions your filing status.
What are the rules for Head of Household?
Check with a tax professional if you’re in this situation because even more complicated rules apply. For head-of-household status, you must also pay for more than half the cost of maintaining your home throughout the year, but you can’t count any and all expenses when you’re calculating this.
Can a Head of Household file an amended tax return?
IRS Form 886-H-HOH lists the various types of documentation you can use to prove you qualify as head of household. If you haven’t yet received a notice but you know you goofed, you can file an amended tax return using the correct filing status.
Can you file Head of Household if you were never married?
Technically, you might still have the option of filing a joint married return in this situation, but the qualifying rules for head-of-household status forbid this. You can’t claim head of household unless you file a separate tax return. If you were never married or you’re legally divorced, you obviously meet the “considered unmarried” rule.
