Tax Filing Status

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Tax filing status: the basics

The five different filing statuses are:

  • single,
  • married filing jointly,
  • married filing separately,
  • head of household, and
  • qualifying widow.

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Tax filing status: choosing one

Single filing status is:

  • single without any dependents
  • widowed more than one year and without any dependents
  • widowed for more than two years

Click here to see tax rates for single filers.


Head of Household filing status is:

  • single with a dependent residing in your permanent residence
  • widowed with a dependent residing in your permanent residence
  • married, not filing w/spouse, with a dependent residing with you.

Click here to see tax rates for head-of-household filers.


Qualifying Widow(er) filing status is:

  • widowed in prior 2 tax years w/a dependent residing w/you.

Click here to see tax rates for qualifying widowers.


Married Filing Jointly filing status is:

  • widowed in current tax year & eligible to file a joint return.
  • married filing with spouse.

Click here to see tax rates for joint married filers.


Married Filing Separately filing status is:

  • married not filing with spouse and have no dependents.
  • widowed this tax year, ineligible for joint return & no dependents.

Click here to see tax rates for married filers filing separately.

Related IRS publications

Get more information about your filing status from Publication 501. If you are divorced or separated you may also find Publication 504 useful.

Note: you will need an Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this publication, which you can get here.