Spouse died in 2/22. For tax purposes was i still "married" in tax year 2022?

[xmasbaby0]

Very sorry for your loss.  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 $25,900 (+ $1400 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 qualified dependent children , you will be able to file as a qualified widow 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]

You could file as single, but most of the time it will be more advantageous to file as married filing jointly.  (If you did file as single, and if your spouse had any income in 2022, someone would have to file a "married filing separately" return for your spouse, which has the worst tax rates.)

[rjs]

I don't agree that you have the option to file as single. IRS Publication 501 says "If your spouse died during the year, you are considered married for the whole year for filing status purposes." Since you are considered married, your only choices for filing status are married filing jointly or married filing separately. You cannot file as single.

The direct answer to your question is Yes, for tax purposes you were still married in tax year 2022.

[Opus 17]

---

@rjs wrote:

I don't agree that you have the option to file as single. IRS Publication 501 says "If your spouse died during the year, you are considered married for the whole year for filing status purposes." Since you are considered married, your only choices for filing status are married filing jointly or married filing separately. You cannot file as single.

The direct answer to your question is Yes, for tax purposes you were still married in tax year 2022.

---

got it.