Very sorry for your loss. For the year that your spouse passed away, you can file as married filing jointly, in order to get the highest standard deduction---which for 2024 would be $29,200 + $1550 for each spouse 65 or older.
If you filed incorrectly as Head of Household---which you could only do if you have a qualifying dependent---your standard deduction would be less-- it would be $21,900 + $1950 for being 65 or older or legally blind.
So.....filing as married was correct.
**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
