How do I change my husband's middle initial? The program will not allow me to edit it.

[caroleanne1949]

I can get into my profile and edit

[xmasbaby0]

Go to My Info to edit a name on a tax return

[caroleanne1949]

Yes, I've tried that.  I can change my name & my marital status BUT.... It will not allow for me to change my husband's name. I can click on the "edit" button all day and it looks like it's going to do it but comes right back to the same profile page. :( 

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

It is not worth stressing over it.   The IRS is going to use the first four letters of his last name and his SSN.  Fix it next year when you enter information in My Info.

[caroleanne1949]

My husband passed away in December and I had our marital status as "Widowed".

When I changed that to married, it allowed me to edit his name. 

Problem solved. 

[xmasbaby0]

@caroleanne1949 So sorry for your loss....but stop.....do not file Widowed if your spouse passed in 2021.

 For the year that your spouse died, you can still file a joint return.  That way, you will get the married filing jointly standard deduction of $25,100 (+ $1350 for each spouse 65 or older) which will lower the amount of income you are taxed on.

In My Info, you will need to indicate that your spouse died. When his name is in My Info,  there is a screen early in the interview that asks "Do any of these apply to [name] ?’” where you will do that, and then a drop down will appear where you can enter the date he passed.

If you have dependent children still living at home, you will be able to file as a qualified widow for the next two years after this tax return.  Post back if you need further help.

And do not change the order of your names on the joint return.