What is my tax filing status?

Your tax filing status determines your income tax rate and is based on your marital status, whether you’re filing jointly with a spouse and whether you have dependents.

Your filing status can change with major life events; choosing the correct one is vital to getting your taxes right.

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Tax filing status options

There are five tax filing statuses allowed by the IRS: head of household, single, married filing jointly, married filing separately and qualified widow or widower with a dependent child. In many cases, your filing status will be clear.

“Tax filing status is determined primarily by your marital status and whether you have dependents as of December 31 of the tax year,” said Kathryn Kubiak-Rizzone, certified financial planner (CFP), NAPFA Advisor Bureau Member and founder of About Time Financial Planning based in Rochester, NY. 

If you were married but your divorce was finalized in 2023, you would file as single or as head of household when you file your taxes in 2024. If you’re struggling to determine which one is right for you, there is an IRS filing tool you can use.

“Choosing the right filing status is more about understanding how the IRS defines the rules than making a choice,” said Kubiak-Rizzone. 

TAX FILLING STATUS	QUALIFICATIONS
Head of household	You are unmarried, paid more than half the housing cost for the year and a qualifying person lived with you for more than half the year – with the exception that a dependent parent does not have to live with you
Single	You are unmarried or legally separated and do not qualify for another filing status
Married filing jointly	Both you and your spouse file one return with your combined income and expenses
Married filing separately	You and your spouse file two tax returns independently rather than combining data
Qualified widow(er) with a dependent child	Your spouse passed away within two years and you have a dependent child

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Head of household

Head of household is for single people who paid more than half their living expenses and has at least one dependent.

“The ‘Head of Household’ filing status is often confusing as this filing status typically follows major life-altering events like divorce,” said Alex Borgardts, certified public accountant, certified financial planner and co-founder of Next Bloom Wealth based in Kansas City.

The benefit of filing as head of household instead of single is a larger standard deduction, which lowers your taxable income. There are also larger tax brackets, meaning more of your income will fall into lower tax brackets.

“If you’re unmarried on the last day of the year, paid more than half the cost of keeping up a home for the year and you had a qualifying person (child or other relative) live with you for half of the year, you are eligible for this filing status,” Borgardts said.

Single

This is pretty self-explanatory: If you’ve never married, are divorced or separated with no dependents, this is likely how you’ll file.

An advantage of filing as a single person is that some tax credits can be more accessible. A spouse’s income might otherwise be disqualifying for income-based credits. 

Married filing jointly

If you and your spouse were married on the last day of the year and choose to file jointly, you will choose this tax filing status. You can also select this status if you were married and your spouse passed away during the calendar year. 

The benefits of this filing status are additional tax breaks and a larger standard deduction compared to filing separately. Plus, there are higher thresholds for some taxes and deductions. 

Married filing separately

Married couples also have the option to file separately. If you and your spouse both want to be responsible for your own taxes or if it lowers their tax burden. Most couples save more by filing together, but in some rare cases, like if you’re planning to divorce or if one of you had significant medical expenses, a separate filing might make more sense. 

In specific cases, filing married filing separately can help save taxes overall, but the main benefit is the ability to keep a couple’s finances separate while they are separated and planning a divorce. 

Qualified widow or widower with a dependent child 

This filing status is very specific and only applies to filers who had a spouse pass away within the last two years and who still have at least one dependent child. The standard deduction and tax table for this status is the same as married filing jointly, which are both typically more beneficial than filing as single or head of household.

Choosing the right tax filing status

Your tax filing status will likely be determined by your legal relationship status(es) at the end of the year. You may be eligible for only one status, but there are a few situations in which you may need to choose. 

Callout: If you need to choose between statuses, you can prepare your taxes two ways, see which one results in the lowest tax burden and then file the better option. 

Most tax software will allow you to prepare your return for free, as they don’t charge you until you actually file. So you can test out different scenarios and only move ahead with the most beneficial return. 

Pro tips for a stress-free tax season

Start early

To make sure you don’t end up feeling rushed and stressed come tax day, start early. This way, you can break up the process into more manageable chunks rather than being stressed and needing to do it all in one session. And, if you hit any snags while preparing the taxes, you have plenty of time to reach out for expert help. 

If you do start early, though, hold off on pushing that submit button (or putting the stamp on the envelopes) until you’re absolutely certain that all of your tax documents and situations are accounted for. 

“I recommend waiting to start your return or meet with your CPA until you have all of your tax documents,” Borgardts said. 

Some employers and financial institutions may be slower in providing the data you need — there may still be documents on the way that you’ll need to complete your return. 

Choose who will file your taxes

You have a few options when it comes to filing your taxes. You can file directly with the IRS, use tax software, seek help from a nonprofit or hire a professional. 

You can file directly with the IRS Free File tool if your taxable income is less than $79,000. 

Tax software may also be free, depending on the complexity of your situation. However, even if it isn’t free, it’s likely less expensive than hiring an accountant. Many tax software companies also have the option to ask tax questions to an expert, but this usually comes at an additional cost. 

Lastly, you can hire a professional to prepare and file your return on your behalf. This is likely to be the most expensive but also the easiest. You just have to drop off your documents and they handle the rest. This may be your best bet if you have a complicated tax situation. 

Get organized

Ensuring your documents are in order is a great place to start. Having your prior returns on hand for reference and gathering up all the documents (electronic or physical) will prevent you from having to stop the process to search around for the right paper.

“As you receive your tax documents digitally or in the mail, put them into a folder on your computer or a physical tax file at your home,” Borgardts said.

Having one physical and one digital place to put everything can be especially helpful if you’re preparing taxes with a spouse.

Schedule a time to do your taxes

Instead of worrying about your taxes for months on end, set some time aside to do them.

“Set a time on your calendar to work on your taxes or meet with your CPA. You should plan for this date to be after the last anticipated tax document is received, which is often mid-March for those with taxable investment accounts or K-1 income,” Borgardts said.

Make a plan for next year

Was there anything particularly stressful this year? Perhaps you had trouble finding the documents you needed to claim your deductions or your paperwork was in disarray, causing frustration.

Make a plan to tackle whatever the problems were during the calendar year so that when the next tax season rolls around, things go more smoothly.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)