Hi @wbleickardt
I am sorry to hear about your loss.
The IRS has special rules for widows/widowers. In the year your spouse passed, you can still file a joint return getting the full standard deductions. After that you will file as a Qualified Widow if you qualify under the rules found HERE.
Your best filing status depends on your situation:
- If your spouse was still alive as of December 31, 2022, file your 2022 return jointly with your late spouse
- If your spouse died in 2022, file jointly with your late spouse unless you remarried in 2022
- In that case, file a joint return with your new spouse and file your deceased spouse's return as Married Filing Separately
- If your spouse died in 2020 or 2021, you didn't remarry in 2022, and you have a child that meets certain qualifications, you might be able to file as a Qualifying Surviving Spouse, which has certain tax advantages
- When you go through the Personal Info section in TurboTax, we'll determine if you meet those requirements
Thank you for using TurboTax!
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