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Frequently Asked Tax Questions

Filing Requirements/Status/Dependents/Exemptions - Filing Status

Rev. date: 1/5/2010


If I moved out of my house on July 10, but was not divorced at the end of the year, can I file as head of household and take the earned income credit if I have a minor child? Can I also claim child care expenses?

previous topic occurrence Child Care next topic occurrence
previous topic occurrence Child Care Credit next topic occurrence
previous topic occurrence Child Care Expenses next topic occurrence
previous topic occurrence Child and Dependent next topic occurrence
previous topic occurrence Child and Dependent Care Credit next topic occurrence
previous topic occurrence Child and Dependent Care Expenses next topic occurrence
previous topic occurrence Dependent Care Expenses next topic occurrence
previous topic occurrence Divorced or Separated Spouses/Parents next topic occurrence
previous topic occurrence Earned Income Credit next topic occurrence
previous topic occurrence Earned Income Credit and Child Tax Credit next topic occurrence
previous topic occurrence Filing Status next topic occurrence
previous topic occurrence Head of Household next topic occurrence

You do not qualify for the head of household filing status because you and your spouse have not lived apart for the last 6 months of the taxable year and are not considered unmarried.
Additional Information
Rev. date: 1/1/2011


If the parents of a year old child never married but live together with the child for the tax year, and both contribute to the cost of maintaining the household for the child and themselves, may they both file as head of household?

previous topic occurrence Child Support next topic occurrence
previous topic occurrence Exemption/Support Issues next topic occurrence
previous topic occurrence Filing Status next topic occurrence
previous topic occurrence Filing Status, Single next topic occurrence
previous topic occurrence Head of Household next topic occurrence
previous topic occurrence Living Together Tax Issues next topic occurrence
previous topic occurrence Parents Never Married next topic occurrence
previous topic occurrence Separate Return next topic occurrence

Only one taxpayer may claim the child as a qualifying child for purposes of filing as head of household.
Additional Information
Rev. date: 1/1/2011


For head of household filing status, do you have to claim a child as a dependent to qualify?

previous topic occurrence Child and Dependent next topic occurrence
previous topic occurrence Dependent next topic occurrence
previous topic occurrence Exemption for Dependent next topic occurrence
previous topic occurrence Exemption/Support Issues next topic occurrence
previous topic occurrence Filing Status next topic occurrence
previous topic occurrence Head of Household next topic occurrence

In certain circumstances, you do not have to claim the child as a dependent to qualify for head of household filing status; for example, a custodial parent may be able to claim head of household filing status even if he or she released a claim to exemption for the child.
Additional Information
Rev. date: 1/1/2011


I am divorced with one child. This year my ex-spouse, who is the noncustodial parent, will claim an exemption for the child. Can I qualify as head of household?

   You can file as head of household even though you do not claim an exemption for your child if you meet all of the following requirements:

1. You are unmarried or considered unmarried on the last day of the year.
2. You paid more than half of the cost for the year of keeping up a home for you and your child.
3. Your child  is your qualifying child for purposes other than the dependency exemption and the child tax credit. 

 
Additional Information
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