My 16 year old has lived with us for the whole year. I support all his expenses, food clothing and so forth. But my girlfiend and I split the utilities and mortgage right up the middle. Since I support my son, and she cannot claim him as a dependent, shouldn't I be able to file HOH?


We really haven't tracked it our expenses, I am the one who buys most of the groceries for the household. She actually makes more money than I do, but most of her pay goes to her student loans. I don't believe I am doing anything wrong here, and according to my online filing company that I use, it seems to be suggesting that I qualify for it, and should file as such. I did not file Hoh last year, although I did have my son with me for most of the year and claimed him as a dependent. Will the change in status trigger a red flag?

No, it shouldn't trigger anything.
You have to be paying MORE than half the expense of maintaining the home. One penny more. Hopefully there was a pane of glass or something you bought that cost more than she spent.

You should keep files of property expenses and tally them each year for this and other tax reasons (or breaking up, or selling).

Agreed; your change of status to HoH should not raise any red flags.

Further, you should examine the possibility of amending your 2010 return to HoH if you qualify.