My spouse James died in 2023. I am completing this joint return. Why is the app referring to James as if he is the person completing this form?

Yes, filing the 2023 tax return as Married Filing Jointly is correct when the spouse passed away in 2023.

The program uses the first person listed on the tax return when asking questions that include a name.

So sorry for your loss.    You are correct that you can file a joint return for 2023.  The tax software is seeing your spouse's name first and is using that ---- the software does not know who is preparing the return.   It must be very disconcerting ---so sorry.   But answer the questions in the interview screens.  Do not try to change the order of the names on the tax form.

In My Info----did you indicate that your spouse passed away?

For the year that your spouse died, you can still file a joint return.  That way, you will get the married filing jointly standard deduction of $27,700 (+ $1500 for each spouse 65 or older) which will lower the amount of income you are taxed on.

In My Info, you will need to indicate that your spouse died. When his name is in My Info,  there is a screen early in the interview that asks "Do any of these apply to [name] ?’” where you will do that, and then a drop down will appear where you can enter the date he passed.

If you have qualifying dependent children you will be able to file as a qualifying surviving spouse  (QSS) for the next two years after this tax return.  Post back if you need further help.