Status change

[wjccfc]

My husband passed away last year. I filed the 2023 as Married (as I was supposed to). I had one dependent (child in college). My child has now graduated college and will soon have a job that will take her over the amount earned for me to claim her as a dependent. Will this cause me to lose the "widow" filing status? What should I have being deducted from my pay (married or single)?

[smcknight]

Yes, you will lose the qualifying widow filing status as you must have a dependent child the year after your spouse has deceased.  Even though you can select Widow, there will be a series of questions and your tax rate will be calculated as a Single person. You will then claim Single on your Form W-4 for 2024. You can find more information here:

https://apps.irs.gov/app/vita/content/globalmedia/4491_filing_status.pdf