This Season
 

How to File Taxes as a Qualified Widow or Widower

File your taxes under the filing status that saves the most money. Your filing status determines your income tax rate and standard deduction.

Related Searches:
    Difficulty:
    Moderately Easy

    Instructions

    Things You'll Need

    • IRS Forms
    • Financial Calculator
    • Computers
    • Tax Preparation Software
      • 1

        Determine that your spouse died in the tax year one or two years immediately before the present tax year. For a 1999 tax return, your spouse must have died in 1997 or 1998.

      • 2

        Determine that you did not remarried in the tax year in which your spouse died or since. For a 1999 tax return, you could not have remarried in 1997, 1998 or 1999.

      • 3

        Determine that your home was the main home for the entire tax year for a dependent child. The dependent can be your child, grandchild, stepchild, adopted child or foster child.

      • 4

        Determine that you paid more than half the cost of maintaining your home.

      • 5

        Check the box for qualified widow(er) on line 5 of the 1040 or 1040A.

    Tips & Warnings

    • For the year in which your spouse died, you can file married filing jointly unless you remarried and divorced during that year.

    • You will probably file as head of household after you have used your two years as a qualified widow(er), unless your situation changes.

    • Your home can be the main home for your dependent child for the entire year even if your child is away at college or for some other temporary reason.

    • Remarriage before or during the tax year disqualifies you from using this filing status even if you are divorced before the end of the tax year.

    • You can file as a qualified widow(er) for only two years per deceased spouse.

    • Taxes can be technical and tricky. If something is persistently confusing, talk to an experienced tax preparer.

    Related Searches

    Read Next:

    Comments

    You May Also Like

    Follow eHow

    Related Ads