How do I file my taxes if I got divorced?
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How do I file my taxes if I got divorced?
You must file either “married filing separately” or “head of household” depending on your circumstances. Filing as head of household allows you to claim the standard deduction even if your spouse itemizes deductions and allows you to claim additional credits such as the dependent care credit and earned income credit.
Can I file single if I filed for divorce?
If you're legally divorced, you must file as single or head of household. But, if you are still legally married, the IRS always allows you to file either jointly or separately. (A married filing jointly return is generally the most advantageous filing status for most people.)
How does divorce affect tax filing status?
When filing taxes after divorce, you can only use the head of household status if you meet all three of the following requirements: On the last day of the year, you were considered unmarried (so you were single, divorced or legally separated). You paid more than half of the costs of keeping up a home for the year.
Is it better to file single or divorced on taxes?
Divorced or separated taxpayers who qualify should file as a head of household instead of single because this status has several advantages: there's a lower effective tax rate than the one used for those who file as single. the standard deduction is higher than for single individuals.
