Why it’s important for
​taxpayers to know their filing status!
When a taxpayer files their tax return, they need to know their filing status. What folks should remember is that a taxpayer’s status could change during the year. So, any time is a good a time for a taxpayer to learn about the different filing statuses and which one is best for them.
Knowing the correct filing status can help taxpayers determine several things about filing their tax return:

• Is the taxpayer required to file a federal tax return or should they file to receive a refund?
• What is their standard deduction amount?
• Is the taxpayer eligibility for certain credits?
• How much tax they should pay?

The taxpayer’s filing status generally depends on whether they are single or married on Dec. 31 and that is their status for the whole year.
 
Here’s a list of filing statuses and a description of who claims them:

• Single. Normally this status is for taxpayers who are unmarried, divorced or legally separated under a divorce or separate maintenance decree governed by state law.
• Married filing jointly. If a taxpayer is married, they can file a joint tax return with their spouse. When a spouse passes away, the widowed spouse can usually file a joint return for that year.
• Married filing separately. Alternatively, married couples can choose to file separate tax returns. It may result in less tax owed than filing a joint tax return.
• Head of household. Unmarried taxpayers may be able file using this status, but special rules apply. For example, the taxpayer must have paid more than half the cost of keeping up a home for themselves and a qualifying person living in the home for half the year. Taxpayers should check the rules to make sure they qualify.
• Qualifying widow(er) with dependent child. This status may apply to a taxpayer if their spouse died during one of the previous two years and they have a dependent child. Other conditions also apply.

More than one filing status may apply and taxpayers can generally choose the filing status the allows them to pay the least amount of tax.

More Information:
Filing
Interactive Tax Assistant
Publication 501, Standard Deduction and Filing Information
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National Payroll Week Proclamation !!

​Welcome... to Big Orange Payroll Country!!
....And the webpage for the East Tennessee Chapter of the American Payroll Association.  
Our chapter serves Knoxville, TN and surrounding counties, ​providing Payroll Professional networking
and training opportunities for our members and chapter friends.
Check out our website as it contains valuable information for those in the Payroll field.
Come join us for a monthly meeting and network with some professionals in your field and make some new friends.
​

​Monthly Chapter Meetings 
 We provide several training events each year.  Our regular Monthly Chapter Meeting is held every 3rd Wednesday of the month.  We also host a Local Payroll Seminar at least once a year, and we encourage support of the TN Statewide Payroll Conference.  Each of these events offers the opportunity for networking, training, and re-certification credits for CPP's & FPC's.  Our Director of Education and the officer's board actively seek highly qualified instructors and topics for all our training events.
​

Register for Monthly Meetings

***Pay now!***

​
​Greater Nashville Chapter APA -  Chattanooga Chapter 
Memphis Chapter  -   American Payroll Association 
Tennessee Statewide Payroll Conference a.k.a. TSWB

​East TN Chapter of the American Payroll Association
Post Office Box 70833
Knoxville, Tennessee 37938
EastTNAPA@gmail.com