Is TurboTax capable of correctly filing when one spouse is now deceased? All numbers are correct but the returns are rejected because of inaccurate data in the header.

[fanfare · Accepted solution]

the IRS usually  (always?) shuts off e-File if the SS Admin reports a deceased tax payer.

The only way it could work is if your joint return was ready to go  you e-File within a few days of death.

You'll have to file  on paper via US Mail.

[ykcharrier]

Thank you. Turbo Tax should really reveal this when you're prepping the forms. Thank goodness I didn't pay a fee to find out their software doesn't work for my situation.

[Texas Roger]

No software will work. It's the IRS who is blocking the efile, not the software provider. Unless you want to complete your tax returns manually on the forms, you will need to use someone's tax preparation software to complete it. The fee is the same whether you efile or print and mail your federal return. 

[Bonny K]

I found out how to avoid getting that error message! My FIL passed away last year. My MIL is the surviving spouse. I kept getting the same error message when I e-filed that many people have posted about. I switched the order of the two names, to put my MIL first, and the return was accepted within one hour! I was able to keep the deceased box checked for my FIL and I put "widowed" for my MIL.  Yay! Didn't have to submit by paper!  TT experts should say to try this, and the TT software should say it as well.