I am not a qualifying widow

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
August 30, 2022
2 replies
33 views

My husband passed away in March 2022. We do not have any kids so I am not a qualifying widow.

Next year in 2023 when I do my taxes, this Turbo tax support group says that I need to file a joint tax return for the time that my husband was alive (January 2022 to March 2022) and a single tax return for the time I was single (which is March 2022 through December 2022).

So how do I do that using turbo tax? Won't one return cancel out the other since it would be under my tax id? Do I buy two online returns???

Thank you!!!

TurboTax Premier Online

DoninGA

Level 15

Do not know who you spoke with but there is no way to divide your filing status on a tax return between married and single. The information you received was grossly incorrect.

On your 2022 tax return that you file in 2023 your filing status would be Married Filing Jointly since your spouse passed in 2022.

On your 2023 tax return that you file in 2024, assuming that you do not remarry, your filing status would be Single.

Evergreen50Author

Level 2

Thank you! So I do not have to file a separate final return for my spouse even though I am not a "qualifying widow"? Just one return will be sufficient?

NCperson

Level 15

@Evergreen50 that is correct, for 2022 you file joint on one return as you normally would. Both you and your deceased spouse are listed just like you always did it.

In 2023 tax year, you filing status is Single.

The IRS works in full years..... so when a child is born they are part of the family for the 'full year"; likewise when someone passes, they are part of the family for the 'full year'.