Submitted By: Richard
Answered: October 16, 2012 8:30 am

If I get divorced before the end of this year, do I file as single or married?

For federal income tax purposes, your marital status is determined on the last day of the calendar year. If your divorce is final by December 31, then you are single for the entire year (assuming you don’t remarry before New Year’s).

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Tax Glossary

Keogh plan

Retirement plan set up by a self-employed person, providing tax-deductible contributions, tax-free income accumulations until withdrawal, and favorable averaging for qualifying lump-sum distributions.

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