Maximize tax benefits by choosing the right filing status

A taxpayer's filing status – married filing jointly, married filing separately, head of household (HOH), qualifying surviving spouse or single – significantly impacts their tax liability and benefits. It determines whether they need to file a return, the type of return required, the standard deduction amount, the credits they can claim and the total tax they owe.

Below, you’ll find a few of the top questions from a recent webinar on the topic and their accompanying answers. If you choose to attend the on-demand version of this webinar, you can access the full recording and the entire list of Q&As.   

Q: A girlfriend that lives with her boyfriend, and she doesn’t work. Can the boyfriend use the HOH filing status?

A: No, the boyfriend cannot use the HOH filing status. Even though the girlfriend could be a qualified relative, she is not a qualifying person for purposes of the HOH filing status.

Q: Does a non-resident alien (NRA) spouse need a Social Security number (SSN)?

A: They need either an SSN or an ITIN to file as MFJ or MFS.

Q: If they have an SSN, does that mean they are a U.S. citizen?

A: Not always. Some SSNs are not for working purposes, and some of them are issued to green card holders, so it is always good to question the client of their status for purposes of filing a tax return.

Q: Can one spouse file as MFS and the other spouse file as HOH at the same address?

A: No, you cannot file HOH if you are married. To file HOH, you have to be considered unmarried as of the end of the tax year. One of the qualifications is that the taxpayer did not live with their spouse for the last six months of the year.