18 yr old female with 3 year old son do I file HOH

Bell, IMHO if I were you I’d do free file with turbo tax, it’s super simple and claim HOH. And if your curious before you file you can go to TurboTax and do the refund estimate This should give you an idea of what your refund could be if you file HOH compared to single. But since I’ve had my kids I’ve always filed HOH, doesn’t matter how much I’ve made. Good Luck!

@patience
Very little over that.
The only other income I receive is from food stamps program, they load money Monthly to a card that I use for my sons and my food from the grocery store.

I don’t have any family helping financially if that’s the assumption. I was in foster care I don’t know any family other than my son. The lady who took care of me died.

Well I tried to explain the best I could.

Ok I tried to reply it’s not working for some reason, anyways thank you all for the help

2/2
know any family other than my son. The lady who took care of me died.

Well I tried to explain the best I could.

What I’m understanding from that you said is there might not be much of a benefit anyways to claiming this status

Did you make more than the HoH standard deduction of 20,800? If no, there is no reason to file HoH as it won’t benefit you in any way and is just an extra audit identifier. If you provide more than 50% of all expenses and your dependent lives with you, that would qualify you. Also as a reminder that not many people take into account, if you receive *any* assistance they take that into consideration when determining head of household.

Thank you Steph, put my mind at ease a bit.
Yeah I was quoted $500 from a corner tax place to file them. Either I would need to pay it up front out or pocket or they would take $600 from my return.

I’m very low income one job; so that’s a lot of money that can honestly go towards fixing my car instead of for them to file it for me.

Anyways thank you all so much for the insight

I’m a single parent with a 9 year old, his dad isn’t around and I pay more than half of the cost of my household as I also have a roommate and claim HOH, do not pay someone to file your taxes they will charge upwards of $300. Use HR&Block free file, it walks you through everything step by step including on claiming your daycare expenses. You will get a bigger deduction with HOH and in turn receive a larger refund.

You could claim HOH on what you have stated

HOH gives you a bigger standard deduction

Turbo Tax or any tax program would walk you thru the stuff but if your feel overwhelmed or worried I would see a tax preparer

Yes you can file head of household.

I pay more than my roommate as it’s my son and I and we have the “big bedroom and bathroom
All the bills are in my name she usually splits the electricity with me

Hmm. Ok not sure I completely understand but thank you all for trying to assist.

I live in an apartment with my 3 year old son my lease. I got a roommate last year.

I don’t know im thinking I should pay a tax person to handle this.

What exactly is the plus for claiming HOH? Is it extra money back I assume?

To be head of household you also have to be the person that is paying 50% or more of your residence.

Only one person at an address can claim head of household.

Theres two parts to head of household, the residence and a qualifying dependent.

And to answer question my son is with me 24-7 unless he’s at daycare while I’m working.

I was going to attempt to free file myself. No one else will claim my son the father is not around.
Do you guys think it’s better to just pay someone to do the taxes instead of trying myself

EDIT: Yes, if the child lived w you all yr and you provided all his expenses (more than half) and as long as the other parent isn’t* claiming your child. Is other parent around? You may need permission if ansered no to the above.

Yes, if the child lived w you all yr and you provided all his expenses (more than half) and as long as the other parent is claiming your child. Is other parent around? You may need permission.

If self filing, the option is there to select head of household. If using tax preparer, they will do that for you.