How do I remove my spouse as primary filer if he is deceased?

[xmasbaby0]

Very sorry for your loss.   Do not try to change the names on the return just yet.  Did your spouse pass away in 2024?

 For the year that your spouse died, you can still file a joint return.  That way, you will get the married filing jointly standard deduction of $29,200 (+ $1550 for each spouse 65 or older) which will lower the amount of income you are taxed on.

In My Info, you will need to indicate that your spouse died. When his name is in My Info,  there is a screen early in the interview that asks "Do any of these apply to [name] ?’” where you will do that, and then a drop down will appear where you can enter the date he passed.

If you have qualifying dependent children you will be able to file as a qualifying surviving spouse  (QSS) for the next two years after this tax return.  Post back if you need further help.

https://accountants.intuit.com/support/en-us/help-article/tax-filing-status/claiming-qualified-survi...

For the year after your spouse passed,  unless you have a qualified dependent to claim, your filing status changes to Single.   It is best to start a new account with a new user ID.   It is too difficult to delete the embedded information from a spouse if you use the same account that was used for past joint returns.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/how-do-i-start-another-return-in-turbotax-onli...

[taxlady28]

We are sorry for your loss.  To file in the year he passed, you leave his information there but mark that he died and the date when he died.  The next year start a new tax return with only your information.  You can file joint for the year in which he was deceased.  After that you will file single or surviving spouse if you are supporting a child.

[heath_durbin]

I have the same issue... My mom was listed first on the taxes and dad was second... so it keeps rejecting the EFILE, even though I reported the death in turbo tax.

How do I tell turbotax to switch who is the primary filer without doing a bunch of work?

Or do we just need to paper file? 

[heath_durbin]

I don't think you addressed the issue... IRS rejected my dad's return because my mom was always listed first. (The lady's question was the same, her husband was listed first...

[VolvoGirl]

Who died and when?  If it was in 2024 just leave the names as before.  You can’t change the order of names.   

My husband died in 2023.   He was the primary on our Joint return.   I filed 2023 as normal Joint. For 2024 i filed as Single on a new return and did not transfer from 2023.  If you are using the Online version you need to set up a new account for yourself and not transfer from 2023.

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 QSS Qualifying Surviving Spouse 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.

TurboTax will not allow you to remove the primary taxpayer on the return. And you should not try to change the order of names.  If you were listed as the spouse and want to be the primary taxpayer now or delete the primary person, you will need to start a new return by logging out and starting over with a new account and new user name and password.  You will not be able to transfer from the prior year.

[heath_durbin]

[VolvoGirl]

hmmm,   I guess you will have to mail the return then.   

[VolvoGirl]

Just saw your last post.   My husband died in March 2023 and when I filed in 2024 it let me efile with him as primary with date of death.   Wonder why mine wasn’t rejected and locked.  I haven’t seen any other posts about that.   I’m in California too.