1040 Preparation and Planning 2: Filing Status (2020)

Author: Barbara Weltman, Sidney Kess

Filing status is the status used to determine the applicable tax liability from the tax table or rate schedules. It also impacts certain limitations, thresholds, and other rules. While filing status may seem like the simplest entry on the tax return, there is often much confusion. This interactive on-demand course discusses the various filing statuses and the related requirements, as well as innocent spouse relief. It also covers personal and dependency exemptions, and the phase-out rules for dependency exemptions.

Publication Date: November 2019

Designed For
Tax practitioners

Topics Covered

• Married Persons Filing Jointly
• Married Persons Treated as Unmarried Status
• Married Persons Filing Separately
• Innocent Spouse Relief
• Limitations & Thresholds
• Married Filing Jointly Status
• Head of Household Status
• Individual Status
• Personal Exemptions
• Exemptions for Dependents
• Tests for Qualifying Children
• Qualifying Relative Tests
• Mutual Support Agreements
• Special Rules for Children of Divorced
• Parents or Unmarried Parents
• Phase-out of Exemptions

Learning Objectives

• List the different filing statuses
• Determine when it is better for married persons to file jointly or separately
• Explain special rules for those who die during the year
• Identify the requirements to claim innocent spouse relief
• List the requirements for claiming a dependency exemption
• Determine whether a multiple support agreement can be used
• Explain the special rules for the exemption for a child whose parents are not married to each other and living apart
• Compute the phase-out of dependency exemptions

Level
Basic

Instructional Method
Self-Study

NASBA Field of Study
Taxes (1 hour)

Program Prerequisites
None

Advance Preparation
None