Reg 1

Question 1

requirements that enable a taxpayer to be classified as a “qualifying surviving spouse” are

Answer 1

1.The taxpayer’s spouse died in one of the two previous years and the taxpayer did not remarry in the current tax year;
2.The taxpayer has a child who can be claimed as a dependent;
3.This child lived in the taxpayer’s home for all of the current tax year;
4.The taxpayer paid over half the cost of keeping up a home for the child; and
5.The taxpayer could have filed a joint return in the year the spouse died.

Question 2

State the basic tax formula.

Answer 2

Gross income
< Adjustments >
=Adjusted gross income
< Standard deduction >
Or
< Itemized deductions >
=Taxable income before QBI deduction
< QBI deduction >
=Taxable income

Federal income tax
< Tax credits >
Other taxes
< Payments >
=Tax due Or Refund

Question 3

Identify the various filing statuses.

Answer 3

Single
Married filing jointly
Married filing separately
Head of household
Qualifying surviving spouse

Question 4

What are the criteria for selecting the single filing status?

Answer 4

Unmarried or legally separated from spouse at the end of tax year.
Does not qualify for another filing status.

Question 5

What are the criteria for selecting the married filing jointly filing status?

Answer 5

At end of tax year:
-Married and living together as spouses; or
-Living together in a legally recognized common-law marriage; or
-Married and living apart but not legally separated.

Question 6

What are the criteria for selecting the qualifying surviving spouse filing status?

Answer 6

-Unmarried at end of tax year; and
-Maintain a household, which for the whole taxable year was the principal place
of abode of the taxpayer’s child or stepchild; and
-The taxpayer’s child or stepchild qualifies as a dependent of the taxpayer.

The taxpayer qualifies for this status for two years after year of spouse’s death.

Question 7

What are the criteria for selecting the head of household filing status?

Answer 7

–Individual is unmarried, legally separated, or is married and has lived apart from
his or her spouse for the last six months of the year.
-Individual is not a “qualifying surviving spouse.”
-Individual is not a nonresident alien.
-Individual maintained a home that, for more than half the taxable year, is the
principal residence of a:
son or daughter who is a qualifying child or qualifies as the taxpayer’s
dependent (qualifying relative);
a dependent relative who resides with the taxpayer; or
a dependent father or mother, regardless of whether he or she lives with
the taxpayer.

Question 8

Name the requirements for an individual to meet the definition for a “qualifying child.”

Answer 8

QUALIFYING CHILD
Close relative
Age limit (19/24) and younger than the taxpayer
Residency and filing requirement
Eliminate gross income test
Support test

Question 9

Name the requirements for an individual to meet the definition for a “qualifying
relative.”

Answer 9

QUALIFYING RELATIVE
Support (over 50%) test
Under a specific amount of (taxable) gross income
Precludes dependent filing a joint tax return
Only citizens (residents of U.S., Canada, or Mexico)
Relative OR
Taxpayer lives with individual for the whole year

Note that either the R or T test must be met. Although both of them may be met, only
one is required.