How to get 2024 Turbo Tax to accept my Qualifying Widow status? It keeps reverting back to Single. Per IRS guidelines I qualify. When will this error be corrected?

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
January 22, 2025
5 replies
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Your requirement for dependent child is not valid per 2024 IRS rules. Again question is when will this be corrected in the 2024 TurboTax package?

xmasbaby0

Employee

Very sorry for your loss. I do not understand what you mean about the Qualifying Surviving Spouse issue you are referring to. If your spouse passed away in 2024, you can file a joint return for 2024.

If your spouse passed away in a previous year---like in 2023---then for 2024 you file Single unless you have a qualified dependent child. IF you have a qualified dependent child you can file as a QSS for two years following the loss of your spouse.

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

VolvoGirl

Employee

Do you have an IRS link you don’t need a child? Has t changed that I know. You can file a Joint return the year your spouse died. For the next two years following a husband's or wife's death, the surviving spouse can file as a qualifying widow or widower if they have a qualifying child. That basically lets you continue to use the same tax brackets that apply to married-filing-jointly returns. After the year of death if you don't have a child you file as Single.

DoninGA

Employee

To be a Qualifying Surviving spouse you must have a child or step-child as a dependent on your tax return.

Go to IRS Publication 501 Dependents, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information (2024) pages 9 & 10 - https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p501.pdf#page=9

xmasbaby0

Employee

https://www.irs.gov/publications/p501#en_US_2024_publink1000220820

Eligibility rules. You are eligible to file your 2024 return as a qualifying surviving spouse if you meet all the following tests.

You were entitled to file a joint return with your spouse for the year your spouse died. It doesn't matter whether you actually filed a joint return.
Your spouse died in 2022 or 2023 and you didn't remarry before the end of 2024.
You have a child or stepchild (not a foster child) whom you can claim as a dependent or could claim as a dependent except that, for 2024:

The child had gross income of $5,050 or more,
The child filed a joint return, or
You could be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return.

If the child isn’t claimed as your dependent in the Dependents section on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, enter the child’s name in the entry space at the bottom of the Filing Status section. If you don’t enter the name, it will take us longer to process your return.
This child lived in your home all year, except for temporary absences. See Temporary absences, earlier, under Head of Household. There are also exceptions, described later, for a child who was born or died during the year and for a kidnapped child.
You paid more than half the cost of keeping up a home for the year. See Keeping Up a Home, earlier, under Head of Household.