topic First year filing as a widow in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

First year filing as a widow

Asenman — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 07:37:30 GMT

Good afternoon. I have a friend who's husband passed away in June 2022. This will be her first year filing as a widow and I may be assisting her with TurboTax. Her husband was the main source of income.

1. Is it better for her to file as single or Head of Household?

2. Is there anything else that I need to be aware about when filing as a widow.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!

Re: First year filing as a widow

xmasbaby0 — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 16:42:05 GMT

So sorry for your friend's loss.

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 $25,900 (+ $1400 for each spouse 65 or older) which will lower the amount of income you are taxed on. These are the amounts for her 2022 return.

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 qualifying dependent children you will be able to file as a qualifying surviving spouse (QSS) for the next two years after this tax return. Post back if you need further help.

Re: First year filing as a widow

xmasbaby0 — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 16:41:16 GMT

If your friend's spouse died in 2022, then for the upcoming 2023 return she will file as Single unless she still has dependent children. If so, she can file as a qualfiied widow. Does she still have dependent children?