Arnold is married to Sybil, who abandoned him in 2016. He has not seen or communicated with her since April of that year. He maintains a household in which their son, Evans, lives. Evans is age 25 and earns over $6,000 each year. For tax year 2017, Arnold's filing status is:
A)Married, filing jointly.
B)Head of household.
C)Married, filing separately.
D)Surviving spouse.
E)Single.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Arnold is still legally married to Sybil, so he cannot file as single or head of household. Since Sybil abandoned him and they have not communicated, he cannot file jointly. Therefore, the appropriate status is "Married, filing separately."

Arnold Is Married to Sybil, Who Abandoned Him in 2016