rev. 3/13/2017
I'm sorry for your loss.
Pennsylvania does not allow a joint return when the primary taxpayer is deceased and the secondary (spouse) taxpayer is alive. Since your father died in 2016, your mother can file a joint federal return, but will have to prepare separate returns for Pennsylvania. [If the situation were reversed, you would be able to file a joint PA return.]
In order to file a joint return, the
surviving spouse has to be listed as the PRIMARY taxpayer on the
return. List your mother as the taxpayer and your father as the
spouse. Then you should have no problem.
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