What's the Difference Between Filing Single and Filing as Head of Household?

Filing as head of household and filing as single are both options for unmarried taxpayers, but head of household comes with better tax rates and a higher standard deduction. To qualify, you must be unmarried, have paid more than half the cost of keeping up your home for the year, and have a qualifying person — typically a child or dependent relative — who lived with you for more than half the year. The standard deduction for head of household is $21,900 for 2024, compared to $14,600 for single filers. Head of household also gives you access to wider tax brackets, meaning more of your income gets taxed at lower rates. If you're supporting a child on your own, claiming head of household instead of single can result in a meaningfully lower tax bill.