What's My Filing Status?

Knowing your IRS filing status is essential for making sure you get the Maximum Refund, along with all the credits and deductions you’re entitled to.

The IRS has five discrete filing status options taxpayers can claim on their return

Single

You can file as Single if you don’t qualify for any other filing status and are not legally married. If you are divorced or legally separated, you must file as Single.

Married Filing Jointly

A married couple can file a tax return together by choosing the Married Filing Jointly status. If your spouse passed away during the year for which you are filing your tax return, you may still file as Married Filing Jointly. You don’t have to live with your spouse to file a joint return.

Your marital status is determined by whether or not you’re married on the last day of the calendar year.

Married Filing Separately

Married couples have the option of filing their returns separately, meaning each person would claim their own income and deductions on their return. Filing separate returns means only the individual on the tax return is liable to the IRS for any tax bills and errors on the return. However, this filing status has the highest taxes, least allowed credits and deductions and can make more of the income taxable in many circumstances such as taxable Social Security and your standard deduction amount if the other spouse is itemizing deductions.

Head of Household

Taxpayers can file as Head of Household if they are not married and have paid more than half the cost of maintaining a household for themselves and a qualifying dependent. Certain taxpayers who are married but lived apart from their spouse for at least the last six months of the year and who had a dependent child living with them for more than half the year (as well as paying more than half the cost of maintaining a household), may also qualify as Head of Household.

Qualifying Widow(er)

If your spouse passed away before this tax year, you may file as a Qualifying Widow(er).

Why Jackson Hewitt^®?

We’ll work hard for you

We’re not tax machines. We’re Tax Pros who are happy to answer all of your questions, provide you with tips, and help you get smarter about your money.

We know our stuff

We’ve seen it all — from the simple to the complex — and we’ll get you every credit and deduction you deserve. Our returns come with our Maximum Refund and Lifetime Accuracy guarantees – we’ll get it right or we pay you.

We’ll make it easy

Our Tax Pros are there to help wherever you are. We’re conveniently located and offer a confidential, secure space to discuss your taxes. We’ll even get you started in advance with document drop-off or upload.