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If my husband was retired and never filed taxes and died in 2020 do I file now as single or widow?

Do I file single now
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If my husband was retired and never filed taxes and died in 2020 do I file now as single or widow?

 

Very sorry for your loss. You do not explain why your spouse did not file tax returns---did he have no income during his retirement?    How were you filing---were you filing married filing separately?    If he had any income--like a pension or Social Security he was supposed to file if you filed a separate return.   For the year that your spouse died, you can still file a joint return.  That way, you will get the married filing jointly standard deduction of $24,800 (+ $1300 for each spouse 65 or older) which will lower the amount of income you are taxed on.

 

In My Info, you will need to indicate that your spouse died. When his name is in My Info,  there is a screen early in the interview that asks "Do any of these apply to [name] ?’” where you will do that, and then a drop down will appear where you can enter the date he passed.

If you have dependent children still living at home, you will be able to file as a qualified widow for the next two years after this tax return.  Post back if you need further help.

**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.**
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