2024 taxes

[user17523542416]

I lost my husband in 2023.When I filed my 2024 taxes as single. Should I admend my tax return to QSS? Would it make a difference in my refund? 

[VolvoGirl · Accepted solution]

Sorry for your loss.   My husband also died in 2023.  I filed 2024 as Single.   Do you have a child?

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.

[rjs]

To file as Qualifying Surviving Spouse, in most cases, you have to have a child who lived in your home all year and who you could claim as a dependent (whether or not you actually claimed the child). If you have a child and you're not sure whether the child meets the requirements for QSS, post more details.

If you go through the Personal Info or Your Info section of TurboTax it will ask you questions to determine whether you can file as QSS.

If you can file as QSS, in most cases you will get a larger refund.