Is my mother still considered married as of 12/31/2023 if she is a widow since feb 2023?

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

Your mom can file a joint tax return for 2023 if her spouse died during 2023.

 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 $27,700 (+ $1500 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://blog.turbotax.intuit.com/tax-planning-2/tax-implications-for-taxpayers-who-have-lost-a-spous...

[Opus 17]

For 2023, she would still use the filing status Married filing jointly (if she intends to file a joint return with her spouse).  Hopefully, if she does indicate in Turbotax that she is a widow, the program will ask for the date of death of her spouse and automatically select MFJ when she indicates a date in 2023.  Or, she can select the status of MFJ, and then indicate on the personal info screen that her spouse has passed and the date.