Qualifying Widow - My husband passed away 2024, what status do I claim?

[AmyC · Accepted solution]

It depends. 

• If you have a qualifying child, the child lived with you all year, you paid over half the cost of the home and have not remarried, you would be a Qualified Surviving Spouse.
• If you do not have a qualifying child, you would be single; unless, you remarried.

Reference: Dependent - who can I claim?

I am very sorry for your loss.

[VolvoGirl · Accepted solution]

Sorry for your loss. I lost my husband in 2023.
You can file a Joint return as normal for 2024. For the next two years following a husband's or wife's death, the surviving spouse can file as a qualifying widow or widower 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. And then next year start over with a new return and new account. And don't transfer from the Joint return.

For 2025 you need to start over with a new return and new account. And don't transfer from 2024. You can't delete a spouse especially if they were listed first.

See How to file if your spouse recently died
https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/small-business-processes/file-return-spo...

[VolvoGirl · Accepted solution]

On your new Single return, when you enter your personal info there is a screen that asks if you were Married. Check Widowed and pick the year your spouse died.   Then if you enter a dependent you will get the Qualifying Surviving Spouse status.