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Tax Lesson 2 - Tax Filing Status  

This tax school topic will help you figure out the filing status of the taxpayer. You should note that the tax filing status is not the same as the marital status although we determine the filing status based on your marital status of the individual. Please keep in mind that to figure the filing status of a taxpayer, there are many factors involved and many rules to follow. 

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Student Instructions:

Print this page, work on the questions and then submit test by mailing the answer sheet or by completing quiz online.

Instructions to submit quiz online successfully: Step-by-Step check list

Answer Sheet            Quiz Online

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Use IRS Publication 501 to answer the following questions.

Prepare a Federal Form 1040A  return for Juan Antonio and Maria Jimenez.  Get all their basic information from the following W2, including income information.

 

 

Juan is married to Maria Jimenez (Maria's SSN 512-80-8221). Neither Juan nor Maria can be claimed as dependents on another return.

They have a daughter and her name is: Andrea Jimenez (D.O.B. born 9-16-1990 and ITIN* 900-56-9161). Andrea lived with them for all of the 2008 tax year. Juan and Maria are the only ones providing support for Andrea for all of 2008.

*Notice that Andrea has an ITIN and not a social security number.

  

 

1. Look at the Form 1040A you prepared for Juan and Maria. What is the amount on Form 1040A, Line 24?

A. $ 10,500.
B. $ 9,633.
C. $ 10,900. 
D. $ 10,700.

2. Look at the Form 1040A you prepared for Juan and Maria. What is the amount on Form 1040A, Line 45a?

A. $ 2,096.
B. $ 3,649.
C. $ 3,329. 
D. None of the above.

3. If you are divorced under a final decree by the last day of the year, you are considered unmarried for the whole year.

True False

4. You use your filing status in determining whether you are eligible to claim certain other deductions and credits.

True False

5. If more than one filing status applies to you, choose the one that will give you the highest tax.

True False

6. If on the last day of your tax year you are living together in a common law marriage that is recognized in a state where you now live or in the state where the common law marriage began, for the whole year you are considered

A. Single.
B. Separated.
C. Married.
D. Not married.

7. If your spouse is away from home, and you are filing jointly, then you should prepare the return

A. Sign it for both you and your spouse and enter "by (your name), Husband (or wife) in the spouse signature area.
B. Sign it, and enter "Away from home" in the area where your spouse signs.
C. Sign it, and send it to your spouse to sign.
D. As married filing separately.

8. If you obtain a court decree of annulment, which holds that no valid marriage ever existed,

A. you are considered married since you filed joint returns for earlier years.
B. you are considered unmarried even if you filed joint returns for earlier years.
C. you are considered unmarried only if you filed separate returns for earlier years.
D. you have to file single and adjust your returns from previous years.

9. When filing a joint return, both you and your spouse must use the same accounting period and accounting methods.

True False

10. If you choose married filing separately as your filing status, the following is reduced at income levels that are half of those for a joint return.

A. The child tax credit.
B. The retirement saving contributions credit.
C. Itemized deductions and the deduction for personal exemptions.
D. All of the above.

11. Ash is unmarried. His mother lived in an apartment by herself. She died on September 2, 2008. The cost of the upkeep of her apartment for the year until her death was $6,000. Ash paid $4,000 and his brother paid $2,000. Ash's brother made no other payments towards his mother's support. Ash's mother had no income. What is Ash's best filing status?

A. Single.
B. Head of household.
C. Married filing jointly.
D. Married filing separately.

12. If the total amount you paid is more than the amount others paid, you meet the requirement of paying more than half the cost of keeping up the home to qualify for the head of household status.

True False

13. You may be eligible to file as a qualifying widow(er) with dependent child if the child who qualifies you for this filing status is born or dies  during the year. You must have provided more than half of the cost of keeping up a home that was the child's main home.

A. During the entire year.
B. On the day that he or she died.
C. During the entire part of the year he or she was alive.
D. None of the above.

14. If your spouse cannot sign the return for reasons not specifically stated, you can sign for your spouse

A. As long as you can duplicate her exact signature.
B. Only if you are given a valid power of attorney.
C. As long as she gives you verbal permission.
D. If it is stated so in the prenuptial agreement.

15. If you file a separate return, you generally report only your own income on your individual return. You can claim an exemption for your spouse if your spouse

A. Had no gross income.
B. Was not the dependent of another person.
C. Had gross income.
D. Both A and B are correct.

16. Once you file a joint return, you CAN choose to file separate returns for that year anytime after the due date of the return.

True False

17. In general, your filing status depends on whether you are considered unmarried or married. You must determine your filing status before you can determine your

A. Filing requirements.
B. Standard deduction.
C. Correct tax.
D. All of the above.

18. You can choose this filing status if you are married and both you and your spouse agree to file a joint return. You report you combined income and deduct your combined allowable expenses. You can file using this status even if one of you had no income or deductions.

A. Single.
B. Married Filing Separately.
C. Married Filing Jointly.
D. Head of Household.

19. You choose this filing status if you are married. Doing so may benefit you if want to be responsible only for your own tax or if it results in less tax.  You choose this filing status if you and your spouse do not agree on filing issues. You generally report your own income, exemptions, credits, and deductions.

A. Single.
B. Married Filing Separately.
C. Married Filing Jointly.
D. Qualifying Widow(er) with Dependent Child.

20. This is your filing status if on the last day of the year, you are unmarried or legally separated from your spouse under a divorce or separate maintenance decree, and you do not qualify for any other filing status.

A. Qualifying Widow(er) with Dependent Child.
B. Married Filing Jointly.
C. Married Filing Separately.
D. Single.

 

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Revised: 11/22/17