My ex husband is saying he is claiming one of our daughters on his income tax, but that he is filing single. He stated that he can't file head of household because his parents, whom he lives with are providing more than half the support for the household. BTW, he recieves soc. sec. disability payments as his main source of income.

Questions: Can you file single and have a dependent?

If you are maintaining a household for your children i.e. paying rent to your parents, would you be considered head of household?

If you can't claim head of household what rules prevent you from doing so, when you have a dependent? Would that mean you are someone elses dependent?

Yes he can. You do not have to be married to claim your children as dependants. If he is living with his parents and paying rent to them he is supporting himself and his child.

Yes he can. You do not have to be married to claim your children as dependants. If he is living with his parents and paying rent to them he is supporting himself and his child.

Would he then file single or head of household?

what would prevent him from filing head of household?

To file HoH, he has to:

1) Be unmarried.

2) Paid more than HALF of the cost of keeping up a home for the year.

3) a "qualifying person" live with him for more than half of the year.

Because he lives with his parents, his rent probably does not meet criteria for paying more than half o the cots of maintaining the home.