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February 16, 2025
Solved

not allowing me to file as (QSS)Qualifying surviving spouse

  • February 16, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 0 views
online version
    Best answer by VolvoGirl

    Sorry for your loss.  When did your spouse pass?  Do you have a child?

     

    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.

     

    Then to file Single you should start over and set up a new account for yourself and not transfer from last year.  You will have to re enter any prior carryovers and depreciation, etc. manually.

     

     

    2 replies

    Employee
    February 16, 2025

    So sorry for your loss.   When did your spouse pass away?   Fo the year that your spouse died, you could file a joint return.    For the next two years, you can file as a Qualifying Surviving Spouse IF you have a qualified dependent.   If you do not have a dependent, then you file Single.   Have you entered a dependent?

    **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.**
    April 15, 2025

    My wife passed away in 2023.  No child to support.

    DoninGA
    Employee
    April 15, 2025

    @Roy1969 wrote:

    My wife passed away in 2023.  No child to support.


    You will need to file as Single on the 2024 tax return.

    VolvoGirl
    VolvoGirlAnswer
    Employee
    February 16, 2025

    Sorry for your loss.  When did your spouse pass?  Do you have a child?

     

    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.

     

    Then to file Single you should start over and set up a new account for yourself and not transfer from last year.  You will have to re enter any prior carryovers and depreciation, etc. manually.

     

     

    February 16, 2025

    online version does not have that option

    no children and passed in 2023

    Employee
    February 16, 2025

    @chuckstlou If your spouse passed in 2023, then in 2023 you could file a joint return.  Now that you are working on 2024, you file Single since you say you have no children.

     

    When you switch from filing a joint return to filing Single, you need to start over in a new account with a new user ID.   The old account will have embedded data that will cause errors if you try to use it  for filing as Single.

     

    https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/how-do-i-start-another-return-in-turbotax-online/00/25596

     

    **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.**