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:

What are the requirements for Head of Household?

The first requirement for filing as head of household is that you must have paid for more than half of the expenses involved in maintaining your household during the tax year.

What does it mean to be unmarried Head of Household?

To be considered unmarried means: You file a separate return. You paid more than half of the cost of keeping up your home for the tax year. Your spouse did not live in the home during the last 6 months of the tax year. Your home was the main home for the qualifying person for at least 6 months of the tax year.

How is gross income measured in the home program?

The HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program has historically required that participating jurisdictions (PJs) use the Section 8 program definition of annual (also referred to as gross) income to measure the eligibility of applicants to their HOME programs.

If you qualify as Head of Household, you will have a lower tax rate and a higher standard deduction than a Single filer. Also, Heads of Household must have a higher income than Single filers before they owe income tax. Do you need to file a tax return?

How to determine Head of Household filing status?

The “HOHucator” tool will help you determine whether or not you qualify for the Head of Household filing status. You can efile your tax return using the Head of Household if you meet all 3 of these Head of Household filing status requirements:

What are the advantages of filing as Head of Household?

The Head of Household filing status has some important tax advantages over the Single filing status. If you qualify as Head of Household, you will have a lower tax rate and a higher standard deduction than a Single filer. Also, Heads of Household must have a higher income than Single filers before they owe income tax.

What is the standard deduction for Head of Household?

Head of household filers also benefit from a higher standard deduction. For the 2018 tax year, the deduction for single filers is $12,000, but it climbs to $18,000 for those filing head of household. Deductions reduce your taxable income for the year, which can bring your tax bill down or bump up the size of your refund.