mrichman333 Posted January 29, 2019 Report Posted January 29, 2019 So a client calls me and says his girlfriend and her kids moved in with him and he pays 51% of the cost of keeping up the house hold, "So I can file as Head of Household, right" I say HOH is really for single parents... he says but were not married. As we went back and forth and I looked at pub.501 I can see how he thought that, or is it me that is missunderstanding Quote
Tax Prep by Deb Posted January 29, 2019 Report Posted January 29, 2019 Not unless her kids are his kids. If only hers they do not qualify him for head of household. 1 Quote
Pacun Posted January 30, 2019 Report Posted January 30, 2019 5 hours ago, Tax Prep by Deb said: Not unless her kids are his kids. If only hers they do not qualify him for head of household. Not so fast... I like the answer "Who's yo daddy?". Let's not assume and ask our clients. One time I had a similar situation... a client told me: "my girlfriend moved to my house with her two children and I pay more than half to upkeep the house". After a few questions a couple of questions I said "You do qualify for HOH". When I asked "who was the father of the children?" he replied... "my brother". 1 3 Quote
Tax Prep by Deb Posted January 30, 2019 Report Posted January 30, 2019 Good catch however that is rarely the case. I do drill clients (Yes drill, I keep them talking until I feel they are telling me the truth) and in all my cases they are either their kids or no relationship at all. 1 Quote
mrichman333 Posted February 8, 2019 Author Report Posted February 8, 2019 Thanks all, I really thought it was funny, he read pub. 501 and didn't get past the "single or considered single" part. He believed because they were not legally married that was all he needed. Quote
JohnH Posted February 8, 2019 Report Posted February 8, 2019 A man finds it very easy to misunderstand something when he senses that understanding it is going to cost him money. 5 2 Quote
FDNY Posted February 8, 2019 Report Posted February 8, 2019 7 minutes ago, JohnH said: A man finds it very easy to misunderstand something when he senses that understanding it is going to cost him money. I had to read this a few times, and thought about my past, and it definitely rings true! Then I grew up. 3 Quote
mcb39 Posted February 9, 2019 Report Posted February 9, 2019 However, there are cases where the girlfriend qualifies the taxpayer as HOH under the rules of Other Relative. For instance; if she is not required to file a tax return. 1 Quote
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