Tax Preparation Advice

by M.E. Hansen, All rights reserved. Do not duplicate without permission

Do a Head Count

The IRS requires that you identify yourself in one of five ways: single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head of household or qualifying widow(er) with dependent child.

Single is defined as unmarried, legally separated under a decree of divorce or separate maintenance contract and (after a period of time) widowed.

Married Filing Jointly means you and your spouse report your incomes on one tax return. You are both required to sign the return.

Married Filing Separately is occasionally used by married couples to reduce the total amount of tax liability. Generally, you and your spouse file separate returns and are each responsible for your own taxes.

Head of Household is a special status that is taxed at a lower rate. To qualify, generally you must be single (although some married persons who live apart may qualify) and be responsible for more than half the upkeep of a home where a qualifying dependent resides.

Qualifying Widow(er) with Dependent Child is a special classification. Generally, if your spouse died in either of the preceding two tax years (and not the tax year of the return), and you have a dependent child and meet certain other requirements, you may qualify.

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