How to File Separately on Taxes After a Divorce

The IRS regulations regarding the filing of your federal taxes varies greatly depending on your marital status. For example, if you are married, you can file jointly and obtain any tax benefits of the marital status. To determine the manner in which to file your federal tax return, you must ascertain the legal status of your divorce. Specifically, you must determine the date on which your divorce decree was entered by the court.

Instructions

1. Determine if you were divorced under a final decree by the last date of the tax year, Dec. 31.

2. Fill out your tax return as a single person if you were divorced under a final decree by the last date of the tax year. If you were not divorced by Dec. 31, you are still considered married, and must file jointly as married.

3. Sign, date and mail in your tax return to the appropriate address as set forth on your tax return. Include any necessary documents including receipts, W-2s, 1099s and other requested documents.

Tips & Warnings

• Call the clerk of the court where your divorce is or was pending and ask when your divorce decree was entered.

• Filing taxes can be extremely complicated. See an accountant.

References

• IRS: Publication 17 (2009), Your Federal Income Tax
• "Federal Income Tax Examples & Explanations"; Bankman and Joseph; 2008