diff --git a/skills/us-cpa/src/us_cpa/questions.py b/skills/us-cpa/src/us_cpa/questions.py
index 3ee1502..1a01209 100644
--- a/skills/us-cpa/src/us_cpa/questions.py
+++ b/skills/us-cpa/src/us_cpa/questions.py
@@ -63,6 +63,28 @@ def _filing_status_label(status: str) -> str:
     return status.replace("_", " ").title()
 
 
+FILING_STATUS_PATTERNS = (
+    (("married filing jointly",), "married_filing_jointly"),
+    (("mfj",), "married_filing_jointly"),
+    (("head of household",), "head_of_household"),
+    (("hoh",), "head_of_household"),
+    (("married filing separately",), "married_filing_separately"),
+    (("mfs",), "married_filing_separately"),
+    (("single",), "single"),
+)
+
+
+def _infer_filing_status(normalized_question: str, case_facts: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if "filingStatus" in case_facts:
+        return case_facts["filingStatus"]
+
+    for patterns, filing_status in FILING_STATUS_PATTERNS:
+        if all(pattern in normalized_question for pattern in patterns):
+            return filing_status
+
+    return "single"
+
+
 @dataclass
 class QuestionEngine:
     corpus: TaxYearCorpus
@@ -102,7 +124,7 @@ class QuestionEngine:
             if all(keyword in normalized for keyword in rule["keywords"]):
                 authorities = self._authorities_for(manifest, rule["authority_slugs"])
                 if rule["issue"] == "standard_deduction":
-                    filing_status = case_facts.get("filingStatus", "single")
+                    filing_status = _infer_filing_status(normalized, case_facts)
                     answer = rule["answer_by_status"].get(filing_status, rule["answer_by_status"]["single"])
                     summary = rule["summary_template"].format(
                         filing_status_label=_filing_status_label(filing_status),
diff --git a/skills/us-cpa/tests/test_questions.py b/skills/us-cpa/tests/test_questions.py
index f464488..c5a6ebf 100644
--- a/skills/us-cpa/tests/test_questions.py
+++ b/skills/us-cpa/tests/test_questions.py
@@ -37,6 +37,34 @@ class QuestionEngineTests(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertTrue(analysis["authorities"])
             self.assertEqual(analysis["authorities"][0]["sourceClass"], "irs_instructions")
 
+    def test_standard_deduction_infers_married_filing_jointly_from_question(self) -> None:
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp_dir:
+            engine = self.build_engine(temp_dir)
+
+            analysis = engine.answer(
+                question="What is the standard deduction for married filing jointly?",
+                tax_year=2025,
+                case_facts={},
+            )
+
+            self.assertEqual(analysis["issue"], "standard_deduction")
+            self.assertEqual(analysis["conclusion"]["answer"], "$31,500")
+            self.assertIn("Married Filing Jointly", analysis["conclusion"]["summary"])
+
+    def test_standard_deduction_infers_head_of_household_from_question(self) -> None:
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp_dir:
+            engine = self.build_engine(temp_dir)
+
+            analysis = engine.answer(
+                question="What is the standard deduction for a head of household filer?",
+                tax_year=2025,
+                case_facts={},
+            )
+
+            self.assertEqual(analysis["issue"], "standard_deduction")
+            self.assertEqual(analysis["conclusion"]["answer"], "$23,625")
+            self.assertIn("Head Of Household", analysis["conclusion"]["summary"])
+
     def test_complex_question_flags_primary_law_escalation(self) -> None:
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp_dir:
             engine = self.build_engine(temp_dir)