Are there any tax deductions or exempts for me as a surviving widow with dependent that I need to make sure I file for? My husband passed away of covid 19 in september.

[mokum020]

September. I am head of household. He was a stay at home dad.

[ThomasM125]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

You can file a joint return for 2021 that may allow you to qualify for the tax benefits you may have gotten in the past, such as the child tax credit, earned income credit and the child and dependent care credit.

For two years beyond the current year, you can file as a Qualifying Widow/Widower if you maintain a household for a qualifying dependent, which will allow you to be taxed at sometimes more favorable tax rates than single or head of household.

After that, you may qualify as a head of household, which may allow you to be taxed at more favorable tax rates than if you filed as single.

When you prepare your return in TurboTax, you will be asked questions to determine what is the best filing status for you, and you will have the opportunity to apply for the tax benefits available to you based on that filing status.

@mokum020 

[Edited 1/12/2022 at 8:23 PST]

[Critter-3]

In 2019 you had the option to file a joint return and then for 2020 and forward you can file Head of Household as long as you still have a qualifying child.  Other than that there is nothing more to say. 

[xmasbaby0]

@Critter-3 I think the user means covid-19, not 2019.

[rjs]

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@Critter-3 wrote:

. . . for 2020 and forward you can file Head of Household as long as you still have a qualifying child.

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@Critter-3  She can file as Qualifying Widow for the first two years following the year of her husband's death, then Head of Household after that.