I have a child that I am used to claiming the child tax credit. I also am used to filing head of household. Do we still file one of us as head of household whether we file jointly or seperately? Currently, he is only going to school full time. I work part-time, and will be going to school part-time this fall..not sure if that makes any difference.
2007-06-13 11:26:12 · 12 answers · asked by Heather C 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Taxes ➔ United States
If you are married and living with your spouse you can no longer file as HoH. Your must file either Married Filing Jointly or Married Filing Separately. You'll usually pay the least tax by filing Married Filing Jointly.
You should still qualify for the Child Tax Credit and the EIC if your income is low enough. You may also be able to claim the various educational credits or deductions available to you and your spouse. You must file Married Filing Jointly to qualify for most of those so it will nearly always be to your benefit to file that way.
"r2mm" (above) was on the right track until she stated that your husband could be claimed as a dependent on his parents' reutrn. That is not true! Once you got married they lost any right to claim him as a dependent. There's a rare exception to that but it clearly does not apply in your case so I won't even go into the details.
2007-06-13 11:57:52 · answer #1 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You'll probably do better filing joint than separately, but figure it both ways. If you file separately, your status is married filing separately - you are not allowed to file with status head of household if you're married, that would be illegal.
On your joint return, you will claim the child as a dependent, and get the child tax credit if you have any tax liability for it to reduce. Depending on your joint income, you will also very likely be eligible for EIC if you're only working part time and he's not employed while in school full time.
You might also be eligible for some education credits, but if your income is low, you might not owe any tax so they wouldn't do you any good.
2007-06-13 14:42:37 · answer #2 · answered by Judy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You cannot file as head of household now that you are married and living with your spouse. You can choose to file "married filing separately" or "married filing jointly."
If your income qualifies you for the Earned Income Credit because of your child, you will lose the credit if you file married filing separately. You will also lose the Dependent Care Credit.
Even if you file separately you will still be eligible for the Child Tax Credit.
Since your spouse has little or no income, it will be better to file a joint return so that you can use his exemption and the greater standard deduction to reduce your taxes.
2007-06-13 13:10:54 · answer #3 · answered by ninasgramma 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you are married and living together you may not use the head of household filing status. You may either file "married filing jointly" or "married filing separately."
Married filing jointly almost always results in tax savings. Generally the only time that filing separately saves you taxes is if you live in a non-community property state and when one spouse has significant medical expenses, casualty losses, or miscellaneous itemized deductions.
2007-06-13 11:45:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
You must file as married for 2006 if you were legally married as of December 31, 2006, or for 2007 if you were married by Dec 31, 2007. In general, the government prefers married couples to file a joint return. There are significant tax advantages when you file a joint return as compared to filing separately, although there are rare instances where filing separately has advantages. Filing jointly does not affect your ability to claim the child tax credit unless your income is over certain limits.
If you are married you cannot file as single or head of household if you are living together.
2007-06-13 11:56:22 · answer #5 · answered by r2mm 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
if you were married in 2007, when you file for 2007 you should file as married. there are many credits that you are not eligible for if you file 'married filing separately'.
for example, since you and your husband are in school, if you file separately you will NOT be able to claim any school expenses...could be a major loss.
2007-06-13 11:34:36 · answer #6 · answered by frescatx 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Married filing joint gives you all the credits you are entitled to. If your spouse has something hanging over him that takes his refund simply fill out and include with your return a form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation, which shields your refund.
2007-06-13 12:08:51 · answer #7 · answered by acmeraven 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do married filing jointly, it is better than head of household
2007-06-13 11:35:04 · answer #8 · answered by ctjedda 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
File married, not head of household recommend turbo tax should be free for you with your income key is go to IRS.gov first then to their website
2007-06-13 11:37:47 · answer #9 · answered by Pengy 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
file married
2007-06-13 15:45:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋