Definition
Head of Household (HoH) is a filing status available to unmarried (or legally separated) taxpayers who paid more than half the cost of maintaining a home for a qualifying person for more than half the year. It provides better tax treatment than Single: a larger standard deduction ($22,500 in 2026 vs. $15,000 for Single) and slightly more favorable bracket thresholds.
Qualifying persons include your qualifying child, certain relatives, or your parent if you paid more than half the cost of their home even if they didn't live with you. Being divorced with primary custody of a child often qualifies you for HoH.
Filing as HoH when you don't qualify is a common audit trigger. The IRS has specific verification requirements.
How this affects your W-4
If you qualify for Head of Household, select it in Step 1c of your W-4. It's more favorable than Single — you'll have less withheld because of the higher standard deduction and broader brackets. Incorrectly using Single when you qualify for HoH results in over-withholding.
After a divorce where you have qualifying dependents and a primary residence, update your W-4 to Head of Household to capture this benefit.
See how head of household affects your withholding
Use the free W-4 calculator to calculate your exact withholding with your specific situation.
Open the W-4 Calculator →Related terms
Filing Status
Your tax category based on marital and household situation — determines your tax brackets and standard deduction.
Dependent
A qualifying person (usually a child or relative) you support — claimed on your W-4 to reduce withholding.
Standard Deduction
A flat dollar amount that reduces your taxable income — most taxpayers take this instead of itemizing.