Choosing the Right Tax Filing Status for 2025
Tax season can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to figure out your filing status. Whether you’re married, single, or somewhere in between, your filing status is a big deal—it affects your tax requirements, deductions, credits, and even how much you owe (or get back).
At Adamo in Hackensack, NJ, we’re here to break it down for you in a way that’s easy to understand, so you can file with confidence in 2025. Let’s dive into what you need to know!
Separated but Not Divorced? What You Need to Know About Taxes in 2025
If you’re separated but haven’t finalized a divorce or legal separation by the end of 2024, the IRS still considers you married. That means you’ll need to choose a “married” filing status for your 2025 taxes. It might not feel fair—especially if you’ve been living apart for months—but until that final decree is signed, you’re still tied to your spouse in the eyes of the IRS.
Divorced or Legally Separated by Year-End? How It Affects Your 2025 Tax Filing
Good news: if you’re legally separated or divorced by December 31, 2024, you’re free to file as single in 2025. That is, unless you qualify for something else—like head of household (more on that later)—or you tie the knot again before the year’s out. At Adamo in Hackensack, we’ve helped plenty of locals navigate this shift, and we’re here to make it simple for you too.
Married? You’ve Got Options
If you’re legally married on the last day of 2024, you’ll file as married for the 2025 tax season. But here’s where it gets interesting—you’ve got two choices:
Married Filing Jointly: This is the go-to for most couples. You and your spouse combine your income and deductions on one return. Why do people love it? It often means lower taxes and bigger credits. Plus, filing together can simplify things—less paperwork, less stress. In some cases, if something goes wrong with the return, you might even qualify for tax relief for spouses. We see it all the time here in Hackensack—couples saving money by teaming up on their taxes.
Married Filing Separately: Prefer to keep things solo? You can file separately, reporting only your own income, deductions, and credits. It’s less common, but it can make sense in certain situations—like if you want to protect your refund or avoid liability for your spouse’s tax issues. Heads up, though: if you live in a community property state (not New Jersey, thankfully), the rules get trickier. For Hackensack residents, it’s usually just a matter of weighing pros and cons.
Head of Household: Can You Claim This Tax Benefit After Separation?
Living apart from your spouse? You might qualify for head of household status, which often comes with a bigger standard deduction and lower tax rates than filing as single. To claim it in 2025, here’s what you need:
- Your spouse didn’t live with you for the last six months of 2024.
- You paid more than half the costs of keeping up your home.
- Your home was the main residence for your dependent child for over half the year.
This is a game-changer for many single parents or separated folks in Hackensack.
Marriage Annulled in 2024 or 2025? How It Changes Your Tax Filing Status
If your marriage gets annulled in 2024 or 2025, it’s like it never happened—at least for tax purposes. You’ll need to amend any past returns affected by the annulment (usually within three years of filing or two years of paying the tax). On those amended returns, you’d file as single—or head of household if you meet the requirements. It’s a bit of paperwork, but we’ve got your back.
Alimony v. Child Support
In simple terms, alimony is taxable to the recipient and deductible by the payer. To qualify as alimony under IRC Section 71(b) the payments must meet the following requirements:
- Payments are required under a written divorce or separation agreement,
- The payment cannot be designated as “not alimony”,
- Spouses may not be members of the same household,
- Payments may not be treated as child support,
- Payments must cease upon death of recipient, and
- The parties cannot file a joint tax return
Child Support is never taxable, and there are a few other common payments that do not qualify as alimony, such as:
- Non-cash transfers,
- Payments for use of property, and
- Payments to keep up the payer’s property
Figuring out your filing status doesn’t have to be a headache. Whether you’re a newlywed, a single parent, navigating a separation, or even considering divorce, the team at Adamo in Hackensack, NJ, is here to help. We’ve been serving our community for years, offering personalized tax advice—including guidance on how divorce or separation can impact your taxes—that’s as friendly as a neighborly chat.
Phone: +1 201-343-1171