Head of Household Tax Statistics: Who Files and How Much They Save

Head of Household (HOH) is one of the lesser-known filing statuses, but it’s more common than many people realize. Each year, it makes up about 13% of all tax returns, roughly 21 million filings. Still, a lot of taxpayers are unsure about the requirements, benefits, and rules that come with this status.

This analysis looks at four years of IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) data (2019-2022) to get a clear picture of HOH filers, including refund amounts, income levels, and filing trends. During those years, HOH filers typically received refunds between $4,800 and $5,700. That’s more than double the $1,400 to $1,850 average for Single filers, and almost as much as the $4,300 to $5,100 average for couples filing jointly.

Understanding the Head of Household filing status is crucial for tax professionals, eligible taxpayers, and policymakers. It represents a key mechanism in the tax code designed to provide relief for single parents and individuals supporting dependents. This analysis breaks down the numbers behind the Head of Household filing status, examining refund patterns, income trends, and compliance considerations that affect millions of American families.

Key Head of Household Statistics (2019-2022)

• Filing volume: Stable at 21–22 million annually (~13% of returns).
• Average refund: $4,813–$5,684, over double Single filers.
• Refund rate: 90% of HOH filers receive a refund vs. ~70% of all filers.
• Income levels: Average AGI of $43,600–$51,600.

Filing Status Comparison (2022):

• HOH average refund: $4,813 (2nd highest)
• Single average refund: $1,855 (lowest)
• Married Filing Jointly: $5,141 (highest)
• Married Filing Separately: $2,583 (middle)

The takeaway? Filing as Head of Household often means bigger refunds and a higher chance of getting money back compared to filing Single. That’s mostly thanks to the larger standard deduction, wider tax brackets, and family-focused credits.

Source: IRS SOI Tax Stats

Key Takeaway for Taxpayers: Head of Household (HOH) filers consistently receive higher average refunds ($4,813-$5,684) compared to Single filers ($1,403-$1,855) and have significantly higher refund rates (89.8%-92.2% vs. 67.9%-74.7% for all filers). If you have dependents and may qualify for Head of Household status, it's worth consulting a tax professional to ensure you're filing with the most advantageous status.

Head of Household Filing Overview

What is the Head of Household Filing Status?

Head of Household (HOH) is a filing status designed for unmarried taxpayers who are financially supporting dependents and maintaining a household.

To qualify as Head of Household, you must meet three rules:

1. Must be unmarried or considered unmarried for tax purposes on the last day of the tax year
2. Pay more than half the cost of keeping up a home for the year
3. Have a qualifying person live with you for more than half the year (with certain exceptions for parents).

The qualifying person typically includes a child, stepchild, foster child, or other relative who meets dependency requirements. Notably, the taxpayer's parent can qualify even if they don't live in the same household, provided the taxpayer pays more than half the cost of maintaining the parent's home.

This filing status is a middle ground between Single and Married Filing Jointly. It offers more favorable tax treatment than Single status while recognizing the financial responsibilities of supporting dependents.

Learn more about the Head of Household status.

Historical Context and Trends

The Head of Household filing status was established to provide tax relief for single parents and individuals supporting family members, acknowledging the higher costs associated with maintaining a household while caring for dependents.

Over 2019–2022, HOH filings held steady between 21.2 and 21.7 million returns (≈13% of all individual filings). This figure barely moved even during the COVID-19 pandemic and related stimulus years. The stability reflects the structural consistency of single-parent households and caregivers in the U.S.

Rather than fluctuating with the economy, the HOH population appears tied more directly to long-term family demographics. The spike in average refunds in 2021 highlights how refundable credits like the Recovery Rebate Credit, the expanded Child Tax Credit, and the Earned Income Tax Credit temporarily boosted benefits, even as the filer count remained stable.

Comparison to Other Filing Statuses

The Head of Household filing status is unique among the five filing statuses, offering tax advantages between Single and Married Filing Jointly. If your situation changes — for example, if you get married — you’ll likely need to switch filing statuses.

In 2022, HOH filers received average refunds of $4,813, significantly higher than Single filers ($1,855) but slightly lower than Married Filing Jointly filers ($5,141). The refund rate for HOH filers (89.8%-92.2%) substantially exceeds the overall average (67.9%-74.7%), indicating that this population frequently qualifies for refundable credits such as the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit.

Compared to Single filers, Head of Household taxpayers report a consistently higher average AGI — about $769 to $4,653 more in recent years. This difference reflects who qualifies: many Singles are low-income workers, students, or retirees, while HOH filers are typically employed adults supporting dependents. As a result, the HOH status better represents working families with moderate incomes, not just low-income single parents.

Source: IRS SOI Tax Stats

Current Filing Statistics

According to IRS Statistics of Income data, the Head of Household filing status continues to account for about 13% of all returns, but what stands out are the outcomes: consistently higher refunds, refund rates near 90%, and income levels between those of Single and Married filers.

When looking at outcomes, HOH filers tend to benefit more during tax time than Single filers. In 2022, the average refund for HOH filers was $4,813, more than double the $1,855 average refund for Single filers. Refund amounts for HOH taxpayers are closer to those seen in Married Filing Jointly returns, which averaged $5,141 that same year. Refund rates are also high: about 90% of HOH filers receive a refund, compared with a lower share among other filing groups.

Tax Benefits & Savings Analysis

Refund Advantage

From 2019 to 2022, HOH filers received much larger refunds than Single filers. On average, the difference was about $3,000 to $3,800. In 2021, the gap was the biggest, nearly $3,829, because of pandemic stimulus payments and expanded credits.

Refund rates tell a similar story: 89.8%–92.2% of HOH filers received a refund, compared with just 68%–75% of all filers. This high refund rate underscores the financial support HOH taxpayers receive through refundable credits and favorable tax treatment.

Standard Deduction & Brackets

The standard deduction is a tax break you get before applying any credits. In 2025, it’s $23,625 for Head of Household and $15,750 for Single filers. That’s about an $8,000 head start in reducing taxable income.

Tax brackets also favor HOH filers. For example:

• The 12% bracket extends to $64,850 for HOH, vs. $48,475 for Single.
• This means more income is taxed at lower rates, reducing the overall effective tax burden.

The higher standard deduction and wider tax brackets explain why HOH filers see thousands of dollars in tax savings compared to Single filers.

Key takeaway: Head of Household (HOH) filers get nearly $8,000 more in deductions and enjoy wider tax brackets, which means more income is taxed at lower rates. This structural difference explains why HOH taxpayers often save thousands compared to Single filers.

Sources:

• Big Beautiful Bill
• IRS, Internal Revenue Bulletin: 2024-40

Credit Eligibility (Child Tax Credit, EITC)

HOH filers often qualify for the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), two of the largest family-focused tax benefits:

• Child Tax Credit (2025): Worth up to $2,200 per qualifying child. The CTC is nonrefundable, which means it can reduce your tax bill to zero but does not create a refund on its own.
• Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) (2025): If your CTC is larger than your tax liability, you may receive up to $1,700 as a refundable credit, even if you owe no tax.
• EITC (2025): Worth up to $8,046 for families with three or more children.

Because HOH status requires a qualifying dependent, many filers are automatically positioned to benefit from these credits. These provisions can reduce or eliminate tax liability and push refunds well above taxes paid.

Conclusion — Why Head of Household Matters

Although the Head of Household filing status may only represent about one in eight tax returns, its impact is outsized. With consistently higher refunds, lower tax burdens, and targeted credits, HOH remains one of the most financially beneficial filing statuses for single parents and caregivers.

The takeaway for taxpayers is clear: if you support dependents and meet the IRS qualifications, filing as Head of Household can save you thousands each year. For policymakers, the data underscores the value of maintaining a status that provides stability and relief to millions of working families.

Understanding who files, how much they save, and why it matters helps ensure that more taxpayers claim the benefits they’ve earned — and that the tax code continues to meet the needs of modern American households.

Need help with your taxes? Our tax experts can help you determine your filing status and assist you with your tax returns.