Who is a Qualifying Widow(er)? Taxpayers who do not remarry in the year their spouse dies can file jointly with the deceased spouse. For the two years following the year of death, the surviving spouse may be able to use the Qualifying Widow(er) filing status.

Who qualifies as a qualifying widower?

To be eligible for qualified widow(er) status, the survivor must remain unmarried for at least two years following the year of the spouses death. The surviving spouse must also have at least one dependent child, and have handled at least half of the household costs.

Can I file as qualifying widower without dependents?

If you remarried during the year, you cannot file as Qualifying Widow or Widower, nor can you file as Qualifying Widow or Widower if you do not have a dependent child for whom you kept up a home.

How long can a taxpayer file as qualifying widower?

Qualifying widow(er) If you qualify, you can use this filing status for the two tax years after the death of your spouse. However, you cant use it for the year of death. To qualify, you must meet these requirements: You qualified for married filing jointly with your spouse for the year he or she died.

Can you file separately if married?

Married Filing Separately Tax Filing Status. If you were married as of December 31 of the tax year, you and your spouse can choose whether to file separate tax returns or whether to file a joint tax return together. As such, you report your own individual income, deductions, and credits on your separate tax returns.