How can I file for 2024

Dirttrackjunkie_75
Dirttrackjunkie_75 Member Posts: 1 Newcomer
in Filing my taxes

I have not lived in the same residence as my legal husband. We do not share money. Can I file single this year?

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Answers

  • PhillipB
    PhillipB FreeTaxUSA Team Posts: 79

    Hello,

    It depends.

    If there was a dependent child living with you, you paid for more than half the upkeep on your home, and you and your spouse lived apart for at least the last half of the year, you would be consider unmarried and you would be allowed to file using the head of household filing status.

    Otherwise, you will still need to file married - most likely married filing separate unless you and your husband agree on filing a joint return. As you go through your return, make sure you answer the following questions correctly:

    1.) Did you live apart from your spouse during all of 2024? This will change the limits for certain deductions and credits as they would apply to married filing separate returns.

    2.) Did your spouse itemize deductions on his or her tax return? If you mark that he will itemize, you will need to itemize your deductions, and if not you will need to use the standard deduction.

    Let us know if there are any other issues or concerns. Thanks for using FreeTaxUSA Community

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  • KristineS
    KristineS FreeTaxUSA Agent Posts: 191

    Hi Dirttrackjunkie_75,

    Thanks for joining our Community and your question.

    The IRS has guidelines for each filing status.

    If you're married as of December 31st in any given year, you're considered married for the full year and your options are Married Filing Jointly (MFJ) or Married Filing Separately (MFS). In very limited circumstances a married person can file with the Head of Household (HoH) status.

    This IRS tool here will help you determine your filing status. FreeTaxUSA software will do the same.

    Based on what you asked, you could choose MFJ or MFS since it sounds like you are legally married as of December 31, 2024. Filing separately comes with some specific requirements and limitations for each of you. In particular, if one of you chooses to itemize deductions, the other must do so as well. Please scroll down on this website and review "Special Rules" for a more complete list.

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