Choosing the correct filing status for your tax return

What You’ll Need to Determine Your Filing Status

To use the What Is My Filing Status? tool, you will need to know:

• Marital status and spouse’s year of death (if applicable).
• The percentage of the costs that your household members paid toward keeping up a home.

The tool is designed for taxpayers who are U.S. citizens or resident aliens for the entire tax year for which they’re inquiring. If married, the spouse must also have been a U.S. citizen or resident alien for the entire tax year. For information regarding nonresidents or dual-status aliens, please see International Taxpayers.

Another resource to determine your status is the Form 1040 Instruction booklet.

Be Aware of Scams

It’s tempting, but don’t fall victim to scams that promise inflated refunds, based on incorrect filing statuses or anything else.

Stay up to date with the latest scam information and learn how to report suspected activity, as well as abusive tax return preparers, especially if something seems to be too good to be true.

Filing Help

There are lots of options for help with filing tax returns. See our  Get Help page on Options for Filing a Tax Return.

Qualified taxpayers can get free help preparing and filing their tax returns through IRS Free File online, Direct File or free tax help from trained volunteers at community sites around the country.

IRS Resources

• Filing Information
• Publication 501, Dependents, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information
• U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad – Head of Household
• Qualifying Child of More Than One Person