Head of Household Filing Status

Scenario

Janice Traylor is single and has an 18-year-old son, Marty, who has lived with her his entire life. This year, Marty joined the Marines and was sent on a special assignment to Australia for nine months. Although he was homesick, he knew the assignment was temporary.

Janice has always filed as head of household, with Marty as her qualifying child. However, this year shes unsure whether she still qualifies due to Martys temporary absence. Shes come to you for guidance.

Your Task

• Research the requirements for head of household filing status and the qualifying child tests, including exceptions for temporary absences.
• Write a professional response advising Janice on whether she qualifies for head of household this year. Be sure to explain your reasoning and reference the rules that apply.

Submission Guidelines

• Your response should be at least one page and written in your own words (no AI-generated content, no plagiarism).
• Include properly cited sources and a Works Cited page.
• Submit your completed assignment as a Microsoft Word document through the assignment link.

Think of yourself as Janices trusted tax advisor. How can you clearly explain the rules so she understands her options and feels confident in her filing status?