how to do taxes? this is the first year i can claim my child. i wanted to know if i would get a better refund to file single and claim him, or beings my b/f and i have lived together for 15 months, if we would get a better one if we filed jointly? if anyone has insight on this, please tell. thanks!
2007-01-30 15:47:01 · 4 answers · asked by mozartbuffy69 3 in Business & Finance ➔ Taxes ➔ United States
do claim single and do claim head of household . also claim your child it would be the best deduction of all .
2007-01-30 16:23:05 · answer #1 · answered by chotpeper 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If he's your boyfriend, then you aren't married so you are not allowed to file jointly. If he's the father of the child, then either one of you (but not both) can claim the child, otherwise only you can. The person who claims the child might be able to file as head of household - they'd had to have paid more than half of the cost of maintaining the home, though.
Living together, no matter how long, doesn't make you common law married. Many states don't recognize common law marriage at all, and the ones that do have many more requirements than just living together. If you are in a state that recognizes common law marriage, and you meet the requirements of that state, then you're married, not boyfriend and girlfriend. You could then file jointly - you would not be allowed to file as single, you'd have a choice of joint or of married filing separately. If you are common law married, then you're actually legally married, just as if you'd gone through a wedding ceremony - if you ever split up, you'd have to get a divorce. There's a good article at wikipedia.com on the requirements for common law marriage in the various states.
But it's not something where you just choose - you either are or you aren't, and your income tax filing is determined by whether you're married.
2007-01-30 16:24:25 · answer #2 · answered by Judy 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Joint filing rules usually are for married couples. I'm really not sure that you even could. If you can, then the other issue of concern is the hidden. but very present marriage penalty. I would file separately, and claim my child. While you are at it, don't forget to apply for earned income credit. This will increase your return.
2007-01-30 15:57:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Unless you are married, you can't file jointly. If you file jointly, you must combine your incomes to determine your tax bracket. The more you make the larger percentage they take. That's probably not beneficial to you at all.
2007-01-30 15:59:32 · answer #4 · answered by Josh K 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋