Which of the following expenses is included in Oscar's head of household qualification?

To qualify for the head of household filing status, an individual must be responsible for more than half the cost of maintaining a home for a qualifying person. This includes a variety of expenses associated with the household.

When considering the appropriate answer, "half of the total housing expenses" accurately encompasses the broad range of costs that contribute to maintaining a home, which head of household status requires the taxpayer to bear. This includes not only rent or mortgage payments but also property taxes, utilities, and other recurring costs that make up the total housing expenses.

In contrast, options that refer only to specific costs like property taxes, utilities only, or mortgage interest do not fully capture the requirement to show more than half of the total maintenance cost for the household. While these costs can be part of the total expenses, they do not represent the comprehensive nature of what qualifies someone for the head of household status, which is centered on being responsible for the overall maintenance of the residence. Therefore, the most encompassing choice, which integrates various housing-related expenses, is the correct answer.