Why am I being forced to file jointly just because I am a widow? I don’t know stuff from my wife’s taxes in 2019. TT is forcing this and I want to file separately.

[MarilynG1]

Yes, you can change your Filing Status to Single in the Personal Info section.

To change your filing status before you file you will need to revisit the Personal Info section.

To do this:

1. Select the Personal Info tab in the toolbar
2. Under the Personal Info Summary select edit next to Marital Status
3. Follow the on screen instructions to change your filing status.

Remember that your Standard Deduction amount is decreased when you change your Filing Status. 

Click this link for more info on Filing Status. 

[rubycreek]

Nope. It sent me in a circle asking the same information and never allowing me to select anything as far as the status. It TOLD me I was filing jointly with no option to change through any of the personal info. I would have had to lie and say I was single. 

The frustration was after I had submitted the first time, it was rejected because it wanted my wife’s AGI from 2019. TT never once asked me for this but my efile was rejected for not having it. I came over to the web version after having problems with the app, it kept telling me I needed to “uncheck” a box for FPO (I lived in Japan last year until September)  the “box” was a radio button and there was literally no way to fix it in the app. I have screenshots if you want to see. 

[ErnieS0]

File married filing joint or married filing separate if your wife was alive for any part of 2020. You cannot file single.

The IRS says taxpayers are considered to be married for the entire year if:

• They were married on the last day of the tax year, or
• The spouse died during the year and the surviving spouse has not remarried

If you filed together in 2019 and tried to file again in 2020, your wife’s AGI is the same as yours. Use line 8b from your 2019 Form 1040 for both AGIs. Enter your total AGI in each AGI box. Do not split anything.

If you wish to file separate:

• Edit Married Filing Jointly in My Info
• On Let's confirm your marital status choose Married instead of Widowed
• Then tell TurboTax you want to file separate and answer the questions about your wife

If you file separate, someone will still have to file a final tax return for your wife, reporting all the income she received while she was alive.

[VolvoGirl]

Did you use Turbo Tax last year?  If you want to change from Joint to MFS you need to start over and set up a new account and not transfer from 2019.

Online is only good for 1 return. But you can use the same email address for 5 accounts. How to start another return in the Online version
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/how-do-i-start-another-return-in-turbotax-onli...