Doing a return for someone who passed away and their surviving spouse. Each return needs info from the other, but I need to do them separately. How do I do this?

Question

TurboTax doesn't let you do the returns together, as you could when both people were alive.  So I'm having to flip back and forth from one return to the other, and the bottom line changes with each new piece of info that I enter.

guriraji · Answer

I am so sorry for your loss.

Yes, You must complete each of your returns separately.

Prepare their return first by following the steps below. You’ll need to input information from any tax-related slips and receipts you each received for the tax year.

Note: In TurboTax, any reference to split income doesn't apply to pension income splitting.

Start a new return
When you arrive at the Welcome to TurboTax screen, select Someone else to the question Who are you preparing this return for?
Select Yes to the question Are you preparing a married or common-law return?
Select Yes to the question Did anyone pass away?
Fill out all other boxes and select Continue
On the Filing for someone who has passed away screen, select Prepare a tax return for [your spouse/partner], then Continue
You're now completing your spouse/partner’s final return. On the What’s your marital status? screen, select their marital status on the day they passed away
Select Continue and complete the screens that follow
On the second What happened for you in [year]? screen, select Yes to the question Do you want to split eligible pension income with a spouse or common-law partner?
Select Continue and complete the screens that follow
Input all income, deduction, and tax credit information until you arrive at the Pension Splitting screen
Select the pension you’d like to split and enter the pension amount
Select Continue. You've now completed the split pension election on your spouse/partner’s return
To elect for the pension split on your return, repeat Step 1
On the Welcome to TurboTax screen, select Myself to the question Who are you preparing this return for?, then Continue
On the What’s your marital status? screen, selected Widowed
Fill out all other boxes and select Continue, then complete the screens that follow
On the Pension Splitting screen, repeat Step 12 using the same information
Select Continue. You've now completed the split pension election on your return

Instructions for TurboTax CD/Download

If your spouse/partner has passed away, you must complete each of your returns separately. Prepare their return first by following the steps below. You’ll need to input information from any tax-related slips and receipts you each received for the tax year.

Note: In TurboTax, any reference to split income doesn't apply to pension income splitting.

Start a new EasyStep return
Select Continue until you arrive at the What’s your marital status? screen
Select Married or Living Common Law as applicable on the day your spouse/partner passed away
Select No to the question Do you want to prepare your returns together?
Select Yes to the question Are you preparing this return for someone who passed away? You're now completing your spouse/partner’s final return
Select Continue and complete the screens that follow
On the Personal information screen, fill out your spouse/partner’s details, including the date of their passing
On the Information about your spouse or common-law partner screen, fill out your details. You'll be asked for some information from your income tax return
Continue using your spouse/partner’s details to complete the screens that follow
On the What happened for you in [year]? screen, check all applicable boxes. Select Yes to the question Do you want to split eligible pension income with a spouse or common-law partner?
Select Continue and complete the screens that follow
Input all income, deduction, and tax credit information until you arrive at the Pension Splitting screen
Select the name of the person whose income you wish to split, and fill out all other boxes
Select Continue and complete the next Pension Splitting screen
Select Continue. You've now completed the split pension election on your spouse/partner’s return
Save your spouse/partner’s return to resume its progress later
To elect for the pension split on your return, first start a new return
On the What’s your marital status? screen, select Widowed, then Continue
Input your personal, income, deduction, and tax credit information until you arrive at the Pension Splitting screen
Repeat Steps 13 and 14
Select Continue. You've now completed the split pension election on your return