My brother passed away in 2024 but while looking into his finances to prepare his 2024 taxes, I realized he never filed his 2023 taxes. I know how to file his 2024 TurboTax return online and report him as deceased, but how do I file his 2023 taxes? I purchased and downloaded the 2023 desktop software but when I generate the forms to mail it shows the forms as being "Self-Prepared", and he's not alive to sign them anyways.
Please see this TurboTax tips article and this help article for more details regarding filing a return for a deceased person. In the Personal info section of TurboTax, a question appears asking if the person for whom the return is being filed has died.
Upon the death of a taxpayer, a new taxpaying entity—the taxpayer's estate—is born to make sure no taxable income falls through the cracks. Generally, income is taxed either:
The filing of the deceased taxpayer's final return usually falls to the executor or administrator of the estate, but if neither is named, then the task needs to be taken over by a survivor of the deceased. The final return is filed on the same form that would have been used if the taxpayer were still alive, but "Deceased:" is written at the top of the return followed by the person's name and the date of death. The deadline to file a final return is the tax filing deadline of the year following the taxpayer's death.
Please also see IRS Topic No. 356 - Decedents.
Please also see this help article about how to print and file by mail.