Filing status chooser

Step 1 captures your marital status at year end and any status dates. These details control which filing status branches apply. The wizard also notes spouse status so it can surface options like qualifying surviving spouse when relevant. The tool does not assume a status; it waits for the inputs you provide.

Step 2 gathers household and dependent facts. The wizard asks whether you have qualifying children or parents, whether you paid more than half of household costs, and how many months you maintained the home. These inputs map directly to head of household and qualifying status tests in the decision tree.

Step 3 checks residency and separation qualifiers. If you indicate living apart from a spouse for part of the year, the wizard flags those facts for additional eligibility checks. The tool uses residency months to decide whether qualifying children meet the tests you need for certain statuses. It does not infer answers if you leave them blank.

Step 4 returns eligible filing statuses and highlights a recommended default. The recommendation is a summary of the decision tree based on your inputs, along with a plain-language explanation. If multiple statuses are possible, the tool shows them all so you can explore additional planning considerations.

Step 5 logs the key inputs that led to the recommendation so you can revisit them later. Filing status decisions often hinge on small details such as residency months or support percentages. The wizard keeps those inputs visible alongside the result so you can confirm them or adjust if your situation changes.