Filing Status
Question: If I lived apart from my spouse from July 10 to December 31, but was not divorced or legally separated at the end of the year, can I file as head of household? Will my filing status allow me to claim a credit for child care expenses and the earned income credit if I have a qualifying child?
Answer:
You do not qualify for head of household filing status because you were not unmarried or considered unmarried at the end of the tax year. You were not considered unmarried because you and your spouse were members of the same household for part of the last 6 months of the tax year.
Your filing status for the year will either be married filing separately, or married filing jointly.
- If it is married filing separately, you will not qualify for the earned income credit and cannot claim a credit for child care expenses.
- If you file a joint return with your spouse, you may be eligible to claim these credits.
See Publication 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses, and Publication 596, Earned Income Credit (EIC), for more information.
Additional Information:
Category: Filing Requirements, Status, Dependents, Exemptions
Subcategory: Filing Status
