The head of household filing status is a tax filing status that provides a lower tax rate and a higher standard deduction than the single filing status. To qualify as head of household, you must meet all of the following requirements set forth by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Unmarried or Considered Unmarried
 Marital Status Requirement
To qualify as head of household, you must be unmarried or considered unmarried on the last day of the tax year. This means that you must meet one of the following criteria:
- You were legally single or divorced by the end of the tax year.
- You were married, but your spouse did not live with you during the last six months of the tax year.
- You were legally separated from your spouse under a divorce or separate maintenance decree.
If you are married and living with your spouse, you cannot claim head of household status, even if you have a qualifying child or other dependent living with you.
Filing Status
To be considered unmarried for head of household purposes, you must also file a separate tax return from your spouse. If you file a joint return with your spouse, you cannot claim head of household status.
Living Arrangements
Additionally, your spouse must not have lived in your home during the last six months of the tax year. Even if you were legally separated or divorced, if your spouse lived with you during the last six months of the year, you do not qualify as head of household.
Maintaining a Home
 Qualifying Expenses
To meet the maintenance of a home requirement for head of household status, you must pay more than half the costs of keeping up a home for the tax year. These costs include:
- Rent
- Mortgage interest
- Property taxes
- Utilities (electricity, gas, water, etc.)
- Repairs
- Maintenance
The home you maintain must be your primary residence, and it can be a house, apartment, mobile home, or other qualifying living space.
Sharing Expenses
If you share expenses with another person, such as a roommate or family member, you can only count the portion of the expenses that you actually paid. You cannot include expenses paid by others when determining if you paid more than half the costs of maintaining the home.
Temporary Absences
You can still qualify as head of household if you or your qualifying person is temporarily absent from the home due to circumstances such as illness, education, business, vacation, or military service.
Qualifying Person
 Child, Stepchild, or Foster Child
To claim head of household status, you must have a qualifying child, stepchild, or foster child who lived with you for more than half the year. This qualifying person must be your dependent and meet the following criteria:
- Your child, stepchild, or foster child
- Under the age of 19 at the end of the tax year (or under 24 if a full-time student)
- Lived with you for more than half the year (temporary absences are allowed)
- Did not provide more than half of their own support during the tax year
If you have more than one qualifying child, you only need to meet the requirements for one of them to claim head of household status.
Other Qualifying Relatives
In addition to a child, stepchild, or foster child, you can also claim head of household status if you have another qualifying relative living with you for the entire year. This relative must meet the following criteria:
- Your parent, grandparent, sibling, niece, nephew, aunt, uncle, or in-law
- Lived with you for the entire tax year (temporary absences allowed)
- Did not provide more than half of their own support during the tax year
- You can claim them as a dependent on your tax return
If you have multiple qualifying relatives, you only need to meet the requirements for one of them to claim head of household status.
Claiming Head of Household Status
 Tax Benefits
Claiming head of household status can provide significant tax benefits compared to filing as single or married filing separately. Some of the advantages include:
- A higher standard deduction than the single filing status
- Lower tax rates than the single filing status for most income levels
- Eligibility for certain tax credits and deductions that require head of household status
To claim head of household status, you must meet all the requirements outlined by the IRS. If you do not qualify, you may need to file as single or married filing separately, depending on your marital status.
Documentation
When claiming head of household status, it’s important to maintain documentation to support your eligibility. This may include:
- Proof of your marital status (divorce decree, separation agreement, etc.)
- Records of the costs you paid to maintain your home (rent receipts, mortgage statements, utility bills, etc.)
- Proof of the qualifying person’s residence (school records, medical records, etc.)
- Proof of the qualifying person’s relationship to you (birth certificates, adoption papers, etc.)
Having this documentation on hand can help ensure your head of household claim is accepted by the IRS and prevent any potential issues or audits.
Special Situations
Multiple Support Agreements
In some cases, two or more individuals may share in the support of a qualifying person, such as a child or elderly parent. In these situations, the individuals may enter into a multiple support agreement to determine who can claim the qualifying person as a dependent and potentially claim head of household status.
Divorced or Separated Parents
If you are divorced or separated, and your child lived with you and your former spouse during different parts of the year, special rules apply to determine which parent can claim the child as a dependent and potentially claim head of household status. Generally, the custodial parent (the parent with whom the child lived for the greater part of the year) is entitled to claim the child as a dependent and claim head of household status.
Nontraditional Families
The IRS recognizes that families come in many forms, and the head of household rules apply regardless of whether the qualifying person is related by blood, adoption, or marriage. For example, a grandparent raising a grandchild or an aunt or uncle caring for a niece or nephew may qualify as head of household if they meet the necessary requirements.
Conclusion
The head of household filing status can provide significant tax benefits for unmarried individuals who support a qualifying child or other relative. However, the rules and requirements set forth by the IRS can be complex, and it’s important to understand and meet all the criteria to claim this status properly. By carefully reviewing the guidelines and maintaining appropriate documentation, you can ensure you are taking advantage of the tax savings available to heads of household while remaining compliant with IRS regulations.
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