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February 23, 2025
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My husband and I lived in Alabama until my husband passed away late September and I moved to Indiana in late December. Do I need to file married filing separately?

  • February 23, 2025
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We both lived in Alabama in 2024 until December after my husband died I moved to Indiana. Do I need to file married filing separately?
    Best answer by VolvoGirl

    Sorry for your loss.   My husband died in 2023.   If he passed in 2024,  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.

    1 reply

    VolvoGirl
    VolvoGirlAnswer
    Employee
    February 23, 2025

    Sorry for your loss.   My husband died in 2023.   If he passed in 2024,  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.