[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":7},["ShallowReactive",2],{"faq-standard-14":3},{"rec_id":4,"title":5,"text":6},"14","Which filing status gives you the biggest refund?","When determining filing status, you should consider any and all relevant factors - not just the size of the refund. Unless you are married or have children, you are generally required to use only one specific filing status option.\n\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr> \n\u003Ca href=\"/freefile2025/answers?faq=11\">\u003Ci>Married Filing Jointly\u003C/i>\u003C/a> or \u003Ca href=\"/freefile2025/answers?faq=13\">\u003Ci>Qualifying Surviving Spouse\u003C/i>\u003C/a> usually gives you the biggest refund.\n\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\n\u003Ca href=\"/freefile2025/answers?faq=3396\">\u003Ci>Head of Household\u003C/i>\u003C/a> is usually better than \u003Ci>Single\u003C/i> or \u003Ci>Married Filing Separately\u003C/i>. \n\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\n\u003Ca href=\"/freefile2025/answers?faq=10\">\u003Ci>Single\u003C/i>\u003C/a> is usually better than \u003Ci>Married Filing Separately\u003C/i>. \n\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\n\u003Ca href=\"/freefile2025/answers?faq=3440\">\u003Ci>Married Filing Separately\u003C/i>\u003C/a> usually results in the smallest refund or most amount of tax to pay to the IRS.\n\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\nIf you're not sure of your filing status, you can choose, \u003Cb>I'm not sure - help me decide\u003C/b> on the \u003Ci>Filing Status\u003C/i> screen and we'll help you figure it out. Or you can use the IRS \u003Ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/what-is-my-filing-status\" target=\"blank\">What is my filing status?\u003Cspan class=\"append_external\" style=\"margin-right:4px;\"> \u003C/span>\u003C/a> interactive assistant instead.\n\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\n\u003Ca href=\"/freefile2025/answers?faq=6370\">Which filing status should I use?\u003C/a>\u003Cbr>\n\u003Ca href=\"/freefile2025/answers?faq=6371\">More information about filing status\u003C/a>",1777391526373]