The Qualifying Surviving Spouse Filing Status

[@MrT6bill]

Said it before, I'll say it again: the BEST tax videos on KZbin.

[@miguelcubero3440]

Couldn't saay it better myself

[@summer455]

And also for domestic partners.. what is filing status on them? Single or head of household?

[@TheTaxGeek]

For domestic partners without children, each partner files as Single. If the couple has children (and they're their children, not the children of one partner), the couple can split the children any way they'd like, but only one can claim Head of Household.

[@pavel5362]

Hello. Great video BTW. Why did you use dependent child? In you example: Janet is not a Qualifying Child because of age (she is not a full time student). So she is a Qualifying Relative in this case. That is why we have to look at her income. Is it correct to use Qualifying person definition? To be a Qualifying Surviving Spouse, you need to have Qualifying person except income test? I ask, because instruction for 1040 uses dependent child as well. It's confusing.

[@TheTaxGeek]

The only relationship that you can use to claim Qualifying Surviving Spouse is that of child. This can be your dependent child, or a child that would have been your dependent, except the child didn't meet the income test to be a Qualifying Relative.

[@pavel5362]

@@TheTaxGeek you mean child as child/ stepchild/adopted child? My logic: 1. Is the person is a child/ stepchild/adopted child. Yes in your example 1. Test for Qualifying Child. Your example Janet didn't pass the age test so next to test her on Qualifying Relative 2. She could be a Qualifying Relative but she didn't pass the income test 3. Income test is an exeption for Qualifying Surviving Spouse 4. Check her if she a dependent (SSN/resident). Yes, because income test is an exception and she can file join return. So in you example Janet is a Qualifying Relative and dependent. Is it correct?

[@miguelcubero3440]

❤

[@summer455]

What If you have a husband. You are legally married but all of sudden husband runaway never seen for 20+ years. What is the filing status on that? MFS or just single?

[@TheTaxGeek]

If your spouse deserts you, and you have not sought a legal divorce or separation, you are still married in the eyes of the IRS and must file as MFS. However, if you have (dependent) children, you may be "considered unmarried" and eligible to claim the Head of Household status. This video (the first one ever uploaded to the channel) shows who qualifies for what filing status: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqiUYZRto7x5mbc

[@alexandraloukas2102]

My husband die August 2023 how can I do my taxes when his children took everything and he left everything to them in the will. I don’t have anything to file together there is no information for me they have it And they don’t give it to me so do I file as a single person we used to file together he did everything now I don’t know what to do

[@TheTaxGeek]

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. As his widow, you are entitled to obtain your husband's income documents and file them along with yours as married filing jointly. If you file using just your documents, you need to file as married filing separately.