Filing PA return when one spouse died.

[Maryellen5650]

My spouse Edward  R died 5/15/20.  According to the PA instructions we can file jointly if we meet 6 conditions, which we do.  Turbo tax is telling me I can not file a joint return because the primary taxpayer died.  This appears not to agree with PA.  How do I file a joint return in PA? 

Mary Ellen J

[ErnieS0]

You can e-file a Pennsylvania income tax return jointly with a deceased spouse by reversing the order of taxpayers. List yourself first and Edward second by switching yourselves in Personal Info. You'll have to do this in federal. The change will carry over onto PA.

Be careful if you do this. Make sure you change the name of the recipients of all your W-2s, 1099-Rs, and any other separate property.

It works. See Intuit Alumni @Irene5's answer to Can a Pennsylvania widow file jointly for year spouse died?

[fanfare]

you don't want to do this since it is complicated, tedious  and error-prone.

Instead, file on paper via US mail.

This is a common problem with TurboTax.

OR

use a different tax software provider.

[Maryellen5650]

I will try it.  I don't understand why that is necessary because PA says you can file a joint return if ONE of you is deceased.  It makes no mention of primary taxpayer. 

[Maryellen5650]

Can I complete the Federal and file it electronically and then go back and make the change to file PA.