Filing HOH?

[kaymaza]

Hey everyone,

I'm in the process of doing my taxes for 2020 and I'm wondering if I'd be able to file as head of household. I currently live with my dad and my brother. The house and mortgage are under my dad however he was on disability for all of 2020 so I've been paying him cash so that he can keep up with the mortgage payments. I've also been paying the property taxes for the home as well as the utilities. Pretty much I've paid for more than half of the expenses involved in maintaining the household however because the mortgage and utilities are under my dad I'm not sure how that would fly by the IRS. I'm single and my brother has been unemployed all of last year with no income. I've provided more than half of his financial support so I would consider him a qualifying dependent. I guess my only concern is just being able to provide the supporting documentation for HOH. I have grocery expenses from my credit card statements that I can provide. I also have receipt of payment for the property taxes from my account. Would like to just get some input thanks.

[Tim]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/family/guide-to-filing-taxes-as-head-of-household/amp/L4Nx6DYu9

Brother no.
Dad:
“Pretty much” does not count. Half of all living expenses.

[kaymaza]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/turbota.../amp/L4Nx6DYu9

Brother no.
Dad:
“Pretty much” does not count. Half of all living expenses.

According to this IRS table https://apps.irs.gov/app/vita/conten...ative_4012.pdf my brother would quality as a relative dependent.

I've contributed more than half of all the living expenses for our household. My only concern is that the burden of proof would be on me to the prove that to the IRS but I just don't know how that would fly since the mortgage and home are under my dad and I've been paying him in cash to cover the monthly mortgage.

[Tim]

Keep records. Or pay the mortgage directly.
A spreadsheet is a record. If your payments exceed his income, that proves 50%. The only thing is to prove he spent his income on other things. Numbers add up.