I don't understand the "Head of Household" option on W-4?

Question

I guess I always thought that whichever spouse made the highest income was automatically deemed as Head of Household...but maybe it's really for unmarried people only? Hmmm...I know it's pathetic, but I'm confused.

Also, the option about no one else claiming you as a dependent... Ok, my hubby and I both work, our incomes are very close, mine may be a few thousand dollars more. What does that mean for dependent status...we both depend on each other. Hehe, don't laugh at me!

Answer 1

It is who earns the most income

Answer 2

So many wrong answerers here!!  You cannot file HOH if you are married.  HOH means single parent with a dependent (meaning CHILD) generally. Go to www.irs.gov for more details, just search "head of household".  I am a stay at home mom, I do not work, and we file "married filing jointly".  I am 100% certain of this!

Answer 3

Unmarried, meaning divorced or single, with a child or another person (related) to support.

Answer 4

For instance I am filing Head of Household and I am married but my wife or children do not work.

You can also file Head of Household if you are taking responsibility for the main portion of costs of living for your family.

Answer 5

IRS Taxpayer Assistance Division

1800-829-1040

Look in your phone book for the nearest office and they can do your taxes electronically for free.Bring Social Security numbers for all involved in household,all paperwok,and all W-2's. And bring some ID.

Answer 6

You thought wrong - for a married couple, NEITHER is head of household.  That's a status for someone who it NOT married but pays over half of the cost of keeping up a home for a qualifying dependent - not all dependents qualify the person for HofH.

A spouse is never a dependent.  It's asking if someone else, like maybe a parent, can claim you - the answer there is most likely no.

Answer 7

Get your most recent paycheck stubs.  Go to IRS gov and run the withholding calculator.  It will give you a suggestion for the number of "withholding allowances" each of you should put on your W-4s.

Remember, your goal is to get a small refund at tax time, not to owe money.  If you fill out the W-4 claiming you are HOH and that your husband is your dependent, you will withhold far too little and will owe at tax time.

Answer 8

Judy is right.  The others after her added a bit more info.

Answer 9

Let me try it.

1. If you  lived with your spouse at anytime during the last 6 months of the year, you cannot file HOH, (you would not want to anyway) and should file as Married Filing Jointly. If you want to read the HOH details, see pages 22-24 of IRS Pub 17.

2. Neither of you is a "dependent", but you each get an "exemption". (1040 lines 6a and 6b)