January 28, 2019
![Total Returns by Filing Status Total Returns by Filing Status](https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/sites/default/files/fiscal-facts/ff_detailed_s.png)
Fact:
In 2016, the largest share of individual tax returns were filed by single filers (48%), followed by those married filing jointly and surviving spouses (36%). About 14% of returns were filed by heads of households and only 2% from those married but filing separately.