Filing as a Widow(er)

Updated for filing 2024 tax returns

When your spouse dies, the IRS provides a short-term additional tax break in the form of a special filing status called  Qualifying Surviving Spouse (formerly known as “qualifying widow(er)”). Here are the details about using this filing status after the loss of a spouse. 

The First Year 

The year that your spouse dies, you wouldn't have to claim the surviving spouse status right away. You can still file a joint return if you didn’t remarry. In filing the joint return, include your income and deductions for the full year and your spouse’s income and deductions up until the date of death. 

The Next Two Years 

For two tax years after the year your spouse died, you can file as a surviving spouse, which gets you a higher standard deduction and lower tax rate than filing as a single person. 

You must meet these requirements: 

• You haven’t remarried. 

• You must have a dependent child or stepchild (not a foster child) who lived with you all year, and you must have paid over half the maintenance costs of your home. 

• You must have been able to file jointly in the year of your spouse’s death, even if you didn’t. 

To see this year's surviving spouse’s standard deduction amount, check out our Filing Status page. 

Keep your spouse's information to claim the surviving spouse status 

To claim the status, you'll need to provide your spouse’s name, SSN, and date of death, along with your dependent's information. If you'd like help keeping everyone's names, dates, and numbers organized, use our Taxes for Families checklist. 

When tax time rolls around, we believe that everyone should feel good about the process and know they're in great hands. You can good about filing your tax return with 1040.com. 

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