Changing your filing status to Head of Household on TurboTax can unlock significant tax savings, offering a higher standard deduction and more favorable tax brackets compared to filing as Single. But it's crucial to ensure you truly qualify, as the IRS has specific requirements. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process step-by-step within TurboTax.
Ready to Explore Tax Savings? Let's See If Head of Household is for You!
Before we dive into the "how-to" in TurboTax, let's quickly check if you're even eligible. The Head of Household status isn't just about being the main breadwinner; it's about meeting specific IRS criteria. If you're unsure, keep reading, because making an incorrect claim can lead to penalties!
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| How To Change To Head Of Household On Turbotax |
Understanding the Benefits of Head of Household
The primary advantages of filing as Head of Household (HOH) are:
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Higher Standard Deduction: For the 2024 tax year, the standard deduction for HOH is significantly higher than for Single filers. This means a larger portion of your income is tax-free.
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More Favorable Tax Brackets: HOH filers have wider tax brackets, meaning more of your income is taxed at lower rates. This can result in a considerably lower overall tax bill.
Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility for Head of Household Status
This is the most critical step. TurboTax will guide you with questions, but understanding the core requirements beforehand will help you navigate the process accurately.
Sub-heading: Are You Considered Unmarried?
To qualify for HOH, you generally must be unmarried or considered unmarried on the last day of the tax year (December 31st).
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Unmarried: This is straightforward – you were single, divorced, or legally separated on December 31st.
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Considered Unmarried (Married but Separated): Even if you're still legally married, you might qualify if all of the following apply:
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You file a separate tax return from your spouse.
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Your spouse didn't live in your home at any time during the last six months of the tax year. (Temporary absences for business, military service, or illness generally don't count as living apart.)
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You paid more than half the cost of keeping up your home for the year.
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Your home was the main home of a qualifying child or dependent for more than half the year.
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Sub-heading: Did You Pay More Than Half the Cost of Keeping Up a Home?
This is a key financial test. You must have provided more than 50% of the total costs of maintaining your household for the year. This includes expenses like:
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Rent or Mortgage Interest
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Real Estate Taxes
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Homeowner's Insurance
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Utilities (gas, electricity, water, internet)
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Repairs and Maintenance (non-improvements)
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Groceries consumed in the home
What doesn't count: Expenses like clothing, education, medical treatment, vacations, life insurance premiums, mortgage principal, or the rental value of your home if you own it outright. Also, services you or other household members provide don't count.
Sub-heading: Do You Have a Qualifying Person?
Tip: Train your eye to catch repeated ideas.
This is where many people get tripped up. You must have a "qualifying person" who lived with you for more than half the year. There are exceptions, particularly for parents.
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Qualifying Child: This is typically your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or a descendant of any of them (e.g., grandchild). They must:
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Be under age 19 at the end of the tax year (or under 24 if a full-time student).
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Have lived with you for more than half the year (with some exceptions for temporary absences like school or medical treatment).
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Not have provided more than half of their own support for the year.
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Be younger than you.
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Not file a joint return for the year (unless filed only to claim a refund of withheld income tax or estimated tax paid).
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Qualifying Relative: This can be a broader category but has stricter rules, especially regarding gross income and support.
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Your parent: They do not have to live with you, but you must pay more than half the cost of keeping up their main home for the entire year (which could be a nursing home or their own residence). You must also be able to claim them as a dependent.
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Other relatives: They generally must live with you for more than half the year and meet specific gross income and support tests. This can include grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, etc.
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Important Note: If you are a noncustodial parent, even if your divorce agreement states you can claim the child as a dependent, you generally cannot use that child as your qualifying person for Head of Household status. The custodial parent (who the child lived with for the majority of the year) is the one who can claim HOH.
Step 2: Navigating TurboTax to Change Your Filing Status
Now that you've got a solid understanding of the eligibility, let's get into the software. The exact screens might vary slightly based on the TurboTax version (online vs. desktop) and the current tax year, but the general navigation remains consistent.
Sub-heading: If You're Just Starting Your Return
If you haven't entered much information yet, TurboTax will likely ask you about your marital status and dependents early on.
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Begin your return: Open TurboTax and start a new tax return for the relevant tax year.
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Initial Questions: TurboTax will begin by asking you about your personal information and marital status.
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When asked about your marital status, select "Single", "Divorced", or "Separated" as applicable. Do not select "Married Filing Separately" unless you genuinely intend to file that way and don't qualify for HOH.
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Dependents Section: After your marital status, you'll be prompted to enter information about any dependents. This is crucial. Accurately enter all your qualifying children or relatives here.
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Household Expenses & Support Questions: As you progress, TurboTax will ask a series of questions to determine if you meet the Head of Household criteria, such as:
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"Did you pay more than half the cost of keeping up a home for the year?"
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"Did [Qualifying Person's Name] live with you for more than half the year?" (or specific questions if it's a parent not living with you).
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Answer these questions accurately based on your eligibility assessment in Step 1.
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TurboTax is designed to automatically determine your best filing status based on your answers. If you correctly answer the questions indicating you meet HOH requirements, it should suggest or automatically apply the Head of Household status for you.
Sub-heading: If You've Already Started Your Return (and it's currently "Single")
Don't worry if you've already started and TurboTax has defaulted you to "Single." You can easily go back and adjust it.
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Go to "My Info" or "Personal Info" Section: In TurboTax Online, you'll usually find this in the left-hand navigation menu. If you're using TurboTax Desktop, it's often a prominent section at the beginning of the interview process.
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Find Your Filing Status: Look for a section related to "Your Info," "Filing Status," or "About Your Household." You might see an "Edit" or "Review" button next to your current filing status. Click on it.
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Review Marital Status and Dependents:
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The program will take you back through the questions about your marital status. Ensure you select "Single," "Divorced," or "Separated".
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Then, proceed to the Dependents section. Make sure all your qualifying children or relatives are correctly entered as dependents. If you haven't added them yet, do so now.
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Answer Head of Household Specific Questions: TurboTax will then present the critical questions to determine HOH eligibility, such as:
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"Did you pay more than half the cost of keeping up a home?"
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"Did a qualifying person live with you for more than half the year?"
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Answer these questions truthfully and carefully. If you meet the criteria, your filing status should automatically update to "Head of Household."
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Pro-Tip: If you're having trouble getting it to change, sometimes it helps to go back a few screens and re-answer the questions about your household and dependents. Ensure all details about your qualifying person are entered correctly, including their relationship to you and how long they lived with you.
Step 3: Verifying the Change and Reviewing Your Return
Once you've made the necessary changes, it's essential to confirm that TurboTax has correctly applied the Head of Household status and to review your entire return for accuracy.
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Sub-heading: Checking Your Filing Status
Tip: The details are worth a second look.
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Summary/Wrap-Up Section: Navigate to the "Tax Summary" or "Review" section of TurboTax.
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Verify Filing Status: Look for the "Filing Status" line item. It should now display "Head of Household." If it doesn't, go back to Step 2 and re-evaluate your answers.
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Impact on Tax: You should notice that your refund amount has increased, or your amount owed has decreased, due to the benefits of the HOH status.
Sub-heading: Reviewing Dependent Information
Double-check that your qualifying person's information is accurate, including their Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), date of birth, and relationship to you. Errors here can lead to IRS rejections.
Sub-heading: Re-evaluating Credits and Deductions
With a change in filing status, your eligibility for certain tax credits and deductions might also change. While TurboTax generally handles this automatically, it's a good idea to quickly review sections like:
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Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): HOH filers often qualify for a higher EITC.
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Child Tax Credit: Ensure you're claiming any applicable child tax credits for your qualifying child.
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Education Credits, Child and Dependent Care Credit, etc.: Make sure any other relevant credits are still being calculated correctly.
Step 4: What if TurboTax Still Doesn't Change It? (Troubleshooting)
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, TurboTax might seem stubborn. Here's what to do if you encounter issues:
Sub-heading: Common Pitfalls and How to Address Them
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Missing Dependent Information: The most frequent reason HOH doesn't apply is that the qualifying person either isn't entered as a dependent, or their information (like residency duration) is incorrect. Go back to the "Dependents" section and meticulously review every field.
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Incorrect "Unmarried" Status: If you're married but separated, ensure you've met all the criteria for being "considered unmarried." One missed criterion (e.g., your spouse lived with you for even one day in the last six months of the year) can disqualify you.
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Support Test Miscalculation: Carefully re-calculate your household expenses. Did you truly pay more than half? Gather receipts and bills to confirm.
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Temporary Absences: Remember that temporary absences for school, medical treatment, or military service usually do not change the fact that the person lived with you for more than half the year. Ensure TurboTax's questions on this are answered correctly.
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Technical Glitch: In rare cases, there might be a minor software glitch. Try closing TurboTax completely and reopening it. If using the online version, clear your browser's cache and cookies or try a different browser.
Sub-heading: Seeking Help from TurboTax Support
If you've exhausted all troubleshooting steps and are confident you meet the HOH criteria but TurboTax isn't cooperating, don't hesitate to contact TurboTax customer support. They can often access your specific return (with your permission) and help identify the hang-up.
Step 5: Amending a Previously Filed Return to Head of Household
If you've already filed your tax return as Single (or another status) and realize you should have filed as Head of Household, you can amend your return. This typically results in a refund.
QuickTip: Don’t skim too fast — depth matters.
Sub-heading: How to Amend in TurboTax
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Access Your Filed Return: Log in to your TurboTax account. Go to "Tax Home" and scroll down to "Your Tax Returns & Documents" for the relevant year.
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Initiate an Amendment: Look for an option to "Amend (change) your return." TurboTax will guide you through the process of creating a Form 1040-X (Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return).
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Make the Changes: TurboTax will essentially reopen your return. Navigate to the "Personal Info" or "My Info" section and follow the steps outlined in "Step 2: Navigating TurboTax to Change Your Filing Status."
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Review and File the Amendment: Once you've updated your filing status and all other relevant information, TurboTax will show you the difference in your tax liability.
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Important: Amended returns (Form 1040-X) usually cannot be e-filed. You will typically need to print and mail your amended return to the IRS. TurboTax will provide instructions on where to mail it.
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Keep Records: Always keep a copy of your original return, the amended return, and any supporting documentation.
Time Limit: You generally have three years from the date you filed your original return (or two years from the date you paid the tax, whichever is later) to amend your return to claim a refund.
Conclusion
Changing your filing status to Head of Household on TurboTax can significantly impact your tax outcome. By carefully reviewing the eligibility requirements and following the steps within the software, you can ensure you're claiming all the tax benefits you're entitled to. Always be honest and accurate in your responses to TurboTax's questions, and when in doubt, consult the official IRS guidelines or a tax professional.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to: Determine if I qualify as "considered unmarried" for Head of Household?
You're "considered unmarried" if you file a separate return, your spouse didn't live in your home for the last six months of the year, you paid more than half the cost of keeping up your home, and your home was the main home of a qualifying child or dependent for more than half the year.
How to: Prove I paid more than half the cost of keeping up my home?
Keep detailed records of household bills, mortgage interest/rent payments, property taxes, utilities, insurance, and food expenses for the year. These documents serve as proof if the IRS ever questions your HOH status.
How to: Know if my child is a "qualifying child" for Head of Household?
Generally, a qualifying child must be your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, sibling, or descendant of any of them; be under 19 (or 24 if a student); live with you for more than half the year; and not provide more than half of their own support.
How to: Claim Head of Household if my parent doesn't live with me?
QuickTip: Treat each section as a mini-guide.
You can still claim HOH if your parent is your qualifying person, even if they don't live with you, as long as you pay more than half the cost of maintaining their home for the entire year (e.g., their own residence or a care facility) and you can claim them as a dependent.
How to: Change my filing status from Single to Head of Household in TurboTax if I've already started?
Go to the "My Info" or "Personal Info" section in TurboTax, then locate and edit your filing status. Ensure you accurately answer all questions regarding your marital status, dependents, and household expenses.
How to: Fix an error if TurboTax isn't changing my filing status to Head of Household?
Double-check that all dependent information is correct and complete, especially residency duration. Re-verify your "considered unmarried" status and recalculate your household support. If issues persist, contact TurboTax customer support.
How to: Amend my tax return to change to Head of Household after I've already filed?
Log in to your TurboTax account, find the option to "Amend (change) your return" for the relevant tax year, and follow the steps to create and file a Form 1040-X. You will likely need to print and mail the amended return.
How to: Determine if a dependent living with me temporarily affects my Head of Household eligibility?
Temporary absences for schooling, medical treatment, vacation, or military service generally do not count against the "lived with you for more than half the year" rule for a qualifying person.
How to: Understand the tax benefits of Head of Household versus Single?
Head of Household offers a significantly higher standard deduction and more favorable tax brackets, meaning you'll pay less in taxes on the same amount of income compared to filing as Single.
How to: Avoid common mistakes when claiming Head of Household on TurboTax?
Ensure you genuinely meet all eligibility criteria, especially regarding being unmarried (or considered unmarried), paying more than half the household costs, and having a qualifying person. Do not claim a child as a qualifying person for HOH if you are the noncustodial parent and the custodial parent claims them. Always keep good records to support your claim.
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