topic Re: Deceased spouse in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Deceased spouse

Laura936 — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 06:20:17 GMT

Spouse was primary in the past. Should he still be listed first on tax return?

Will we need his driver's license information in order to e-file?

State of Virginia income tax filed through the mail (due to $ of e-file) There doesn't appear to be an indication that spouse is deceased. Should I write deceased in the signature space? Will I need to include a copy of death certificate?

Re: Deceased spouse

VolvoGirl — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 01:37:02 GMT

Did he die in 2023? My husband died last year too. I filed a Joint return with him still listed as Primary. It printed his name and deceased date up at the very top of the 1040. I efiled both federal and state. State is only $25 to efile from the Desktop program. I didn't need to include a death cert.

Next year I will have to do my own return as Single and not transfer from 2023 but need to start over. Do you have children? You can file a Joint return the year your spouse died. For the next two years following a husband's or wife's death, the surviving spouse can file as a qualifying widow or widower if they have a qualifying child. That basically lets you continue to use the same tax brackets that apply to married-filing-jointly returns. After the year of death if you don't have a child you file as Single.

Re: Deceased spouse

Laura936 — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 19:27:10 GMT

Were you able to e-file? I read that you can't because the ssn has been frozen.

Thanks for your answer, he did pass away in 2023 and there are no dependents.

Re: Deceased spouse

DianeW777 — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 19:37:59 GMT

Yes, you can file electronically. The IRS has allowed this for deceased taxpayers for several years.

IRS FAQ

I send my sympathies to you and your family.

@Laura936

Re: Deceased spouse

VolvoGirl — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 20:18:40 GMT

Yes I efiled Federal and state. And got my refunds direct deposited. Which I didn't think about until later. They went into my bank account without his name being on the account.