Filing Status Error: Preparer Put Single Instead of Head of Household - Impact?

Yes, this will definitely affect your refund. • Filing as Single vs. Head of Household impacts tax brackets • HOH status gives higher standard deduction ($20,800 vs $13,850 for 2023) • Child tax credits may be affected • Earned Income Credit calculations change • You'll need to file an amended return (Form 1040-X) Don't wait for the IRS to process the incorrect return!

I had this exact same thing happen to me last year! My preparer checked the wrong box and I didn't catch it until after I filed. I was so worried because my refund was about $2,400 less than it should have been. I filed an amended return and eventually got the correct amount, but it took almost 4 months to process. I'm now obsessively checking every single line before I sign anything. Maybe consider using a different preparer next year? I switched and haven't had any issues since.

The difference between Single and HOH can be thousands of dollars, especially with dependents. Quite the expensive checkbox error! 😬 I'd recommend running your info through https://taxr.ai to see the exact difference. It analyzes both filing statuses side-by-side and shows you the specific credits and deductions you're missing. Saved me from a similar mistake last year when I almost filed as MFS instead of HOH after my divorce. The difference was over $3,200!

I went through this last tax season. My preparer filed me as Single instead of HOH and my refund was about $2,100 lower than it should have been. Filing the amendment was like building IKEA furniture - seemed straightforward until I got halfway through and realized I was missing pieces! Eventually got it sorted, but the amended return took about 16 weeks to process. The good news is that they sent the additional refund with interest, so I actually got a little extra for the trouble.

Have you tried calling the IRS to ask about your options? No? Well, good luck with that - their hold times are astronomical right now. Isn't it frustrating when you need answers quickly but can't get through? I wasted 3 days trying to reach someone about a similar filing status issue. Finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and got connected to an agent in under 30 minutes. They confirmed I needed to file an amended return and explained exactly how to handle it. Saved me days of redial attempts and uncertainty. Worth every penny when you need actual answers from a real person.

Here's what you need to do to fix this: Step 1: Don't panic - this is fixable Step 2: Wait until your original return is processed completely Step 3: Get Form 1040-X and instructions from IRS.gov Step 4: Fill out only the sections that are changing (filing status and any affected calculations) Step 5: Include a brief explanation in Part III about the preparer error Step 6: Mail the amendment (can't e-file amendments for 2023 yet) Step 7: Be prepared to wait 16-20 weeks for processing The community wisdom here is to always file the amendment rather than hoping the IRS catches and fixes it. They almost never correct in your favor automatically.

I'm a tax preparer and saw this exact scenario last month. Client came in panicking because another preparer had filed her as Single instead of HOH. The difference was $4,250 in her refund! We amended immediately. The mistake also affected her Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Credit calculations. If you have dependents, the impact is even bigger. Do you have dependents on your return? That's the biggest factor in how much this will affect you.

This happened to my sister two years ago! Her preparer made the same mistake and she almost lost out on about $3,800. Here's what worked for her: 1. **Calculate the exact difference first** - Use tax software or the IRS withholding calculator to see what you should have gotten with HOH status 2. **File Form 1040-X immediately** - Don't wait for the original return to finish processing completely. You can file the amendment once it's accepted 3. **Keep detailed records** - Save copies of everything and document the preparer error 4. **Consider asking your preparer to cover amendment fees** - If they made the error, they should help fix it at no cost to you The processing time for amendments is brutal right now (4-5 months), but you'll get the full difference plus interest. Just make sure you qualify for HOH - you need to have paid more than half the household expenses and have a qualifying dependent who lived with you for more than half the year. Hope this helps and sorry you're dealing with this stress!