Widowed; married filing jointly vs married filing separately?

[Texas Roger]

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[RamonT]

If your spouse died in 2013, you can use married filing jointly as your filing status for 2013 if you otherwise qualify to use that status. The year of death is the last year for which you can file jointly with your deceased spouse. See Married Filing Jointly , earlier.

You may be eligible to use qualifying widow(er) with dependent child as your filing status for 2 years following the year your spouse died. For example, if your spouse died in 2012 and you have not remarried, you may be able to use this filing status for 2013 and 2014. The rules for using this filing status are explained in detail here.

This filing status entitles you to use joint return tax rates and the highest standard deduction amount (if you do not itemize deductions). It does not entitle you to file a joint return.

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p501/ar02.html#en_US_2013_publink1000220820