2025 Taxes - Need Info

[stevecripe57]

As part of a divorce decree 45+ years ago, the judge ruled that my wife should be paid by direct deposit from her ex-spouse, every month on the 1st of each a certain amount. I am her current spouse for the last 33 years, however in the first part of June, my wife passed away. However she did receive a % of her ex's salary from January 1 until June 1, 2025 as directed as part of the divorce decree. She received her payment amount for June 1, but passed away on June 2, 2025. I've argued, in writing, with the company her ex works for numerous times that I just need some direction to the correct department or point person and contact information as the company has not sent a W2 to my deceased wife for Jan 1 to Jun 1, 2025. They said they don't deal with those types of questions, and basically refused to help direct me to obtain the info. What recourse do I have? 

[MaryK4]

This does sound like it should be reported as alimony so the ex-husband's employer is just making the payments from his salary.  Your wife would not receive a W2 from the employer because the person who performed the work would be credited with the employment taxes- these are not transferable.  

See Topic no. 452, Alimony and separate maintenance.

Because the alimony began before 2019, she may have to report as income.  For the Turbo Tax steps for this entry, see Do I need to report alimony I received from a former spouse?

I am sorry for your loss.

[stevecripe57 · Accepted solution]

I understand what you're saying, but this was court ordered 45 years by the judge handling the divorce. He specified the percentage my wife would get would come from the ex-spouse's pension fund before the ex-spouse spouse got his portion of the pension. So since it's a % of the employees's company pension, and income to my wife, she gets a W2 (or some form) from the company her ex works for. And every year, she reports it on our taxes. Otherwise, I don't know what to say. She's received a form from this company every year for 45 years. Her attorney at the time explained it all to her and why she needed to submit it with her other income info to the IRS. It may not be handled this way now, but at the time of her divorce this was how it was dealt with, legally.