That depends. As Champ xmasbaby0 replied earlier...
For the the year your husband passed away, you can still file as Married Filing Jointly.
For the 2025 and 2026 tax years, you may be able to file as a Qualifying Surviving Spouse (QSS) dependent on the age and student status of your adult child.
Your dependent daughter ($500) only counts for QSS if she meets these Qualifying Child tests:
- Under age 19 at the end of the year, OR under age 24 if she is a full-time student for at least five months of the year.
- If she is permanently and totally disabled, the age limit does not apply.
- She must have lived with you for the entire year (except for temporary absences like school).
If she is over 24 and is not a "student" or "disabled," she is probably considered a Qualifying Relative rather than a Qualifying Child... thus, you would not be eligible for Qualifying Surviving Spouse.
However, you would still likely be eligible to file as Head of Household (HOH) which is better than filing as "Single" (Standard deduction for HOH is higher).
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