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Level 1
posted Oct 25, 2023 12:36:01 PM

OPTION FOR 2024 AFTER FILING QUALIFYING WIDOWER STATUS FOR SECOND YEAR (2023)

Wife passed in 2021. I filed as Qualifying Widower in 2022 while supporting adult stepson living with me full time. Same for 2023.   What is best filing option for 2024 & beyond?   Will continue supporting adult stepson living with me.

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1 Best answer
Level 3
Oct 25, 2023 12:51:11 PM

Beginning two years ending the date of the death of a spouse, the qualifying widower will typically change to "single" unless remarried. 

 

Your question did not include the info needed to determine if you could now file as "head of household".  If your adult stepson is a qualifying person, the "head of household" filing status may create higher tax savings for you.

 

Here are the requirements for a qualifying person for 2023 (2024 should be similar):  

It depends on if your stepson can be a qualifying person. 

One option would be if you can claim him as a qualifying child:

  • Your child (including legally adopted), stepchild, foster child, sibling, half-sibling, step-sibling, or a descendant of any of them (for example, your grandchild or niece) AND
  • Permanently and totally disabled OR under the age of 19 as of December 31, 2023 under 24 if a full-time student) and younger than you (or your spouse, if filing jointly) AND
  • Lived with you for more than half the year AND
  • Single (or if the child is married, you'd have to qualify to claim them as a dependent even if you're not going to claim them as such).

The other if you can claim him as a qualifying relative :

If you can claim your stepson under one of those options then you should be able to qualify for head of household.

3 Replies
Level 3
Oct 25, 2023 12:51:11 PM

Beginning two years ending the date of the death of a spouse, the qualifying widower will typically change to "single" unless remarried. 

 

Your question did not include the info needed to determine if you could now file as "head of household".  If your adult stepson is a qualifying person, the "head of household" filing status may create higher tax savings for you.

 

Here are the requirements for a qualifying person for 2023 (2024 should be similar):  

It depends on if your stepson can be a qualifying person. 

One option would be if you can claim him as a qualifying child:

  • Your child (including legally adopted), stepchild, foster child, sibling, half-sibling, step-sibling, or a descendant of any of them (for example, your grandchild or niece) AND
  • Permanently and totally disabled OR under the age of 19 as of December 31, 2023 under 24 if a full-time student) and younger than you (or your spouse, if filing jointly) AND
  • Lived with you for more than half the year AND
  • Single (or if the child is married, you'd have to qualify to claim them as a dependent even if you're not going to claim them as such).

The other if you can claim him as a qualifying relative :

If you can claim your stepson under one of those options then you should be able to qualify for head of household.

Employee Tax Expert
Oct 25, 2023 1:02:46 PM

Your filing status for 2024 and beyond depends on your son who lives with you full time. Is your son a fulltime college student under the age of 24? Does your adult son have any earnings above $4,700?

Your filing status could be Head of Household or Single. Head of household.

To qualify for head of household filing status, you must be entitled to a Dependent Exemption Credit for your qualifying relative. Your son is a dependent if permanently disabled, a Fulltime student under the age of 24 or does not work earning more then $4,700.

If not your filing status  will be single.

Level 1
Oct 25, 2023 1:21:57 PM

Thanks very much!  My stepson should qualify as a qualifying relative based on your reply.  He is 56 and lives with me full time, helping me in my old age.  I should be able to file as head of household for 2024 and beyond as long as he lives with me full time and earns $ under the threshold.   Blessings.