widower

[bossx]

my wife passed away in 2021 and i filed jointly and it says you can file as surviving widower the following 2 years  i have my custody of my granddaughter who lives with me all year but why does it tells me head of house hold

[Bsch4477]

A granddaughter qualifies you for Head of Household but not for Qualifying Widower. 

[DMarkM1]

As noted by Bsch4477 and in IRS Publication 501 to be eligible to file as a Qualifying Surviving Spouse, your dependent who lived with you all year in a home you paid more than 1/2 the cost to maintain must be your child or step child.  A grandchild will qualify you for head of household status.