Beginning two years ending the date of the death of a spouse, the qualifying widower will typically change to "single" unless remarried.
Your question did not include the info needed to determine if you could now file as "head of household". If your adult stepson is a qualifying person, the "head of household" filing status may create higher tax savings for you.
Here are the requirements for a qualifying person for 2023 (2024 should be similar):
It depends on if your stepson can be a qualifying person.
One option would be if you can claim him as a qualifying child:
- Your child (including legally adopted), stepchild, foster child, sibling, half-sibling, step-sibling, or a descendant of any of them (for example, your grandchild or niece) AND
- Permanently and totally disabled OR under the age of 19 as of December 31, 2023 under 24 if a full-time student) and younger than you (or your spouse, if filing jointly) AND
- Lived with you for more than half the year AND
- Single (or if the child is married, you'd have to qualify to claim them as a dependent even if you're not going to claim them as such).
The other if you can claim him as a qualifying relative :
If you can claim your stepson under one of those options then you should be able to qualify for head of household.
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