One of the hardest things about filing your taxes is figuring out which filing status fits you: married filing separately, single, head of household…  It’s also an easy thing to get wrong, especially when your situation may not be cut and dry.

The best way to figure out which filing status is the right one to file is to talk to your tax preparer.  The volunteer tax preparers at VITA and Tax Aide sites have received training in how to determine filing status, and when all else fails, have an IRS-created flowchart to determine what filing status fits you and your situation.  They can ask the right questions so that you are filing correctly to ensure that you receive the tax credits you’re due.