Tax Filing Status of Widows

If a taxpayer's spouse died, then the taxpayer is considered a widow or widower. A widow or widower tax filing status will result in higher tax deductions and tax credit than filing as a single taxpayer or filing as a married filing separately taxpayer. If a taxpayer is a widow or widower, then the question is when did his or her spouse die? Below are different tax filing status of widows and widowers.

If the taxpayer is a widow or widower:

  YES, NO

        

NO                                            YES

                 

A widow or widower is a taxpayer whom his or her spouse died. If the spouse of a taxpayer died in the tax year, then the widow or widower can file his or her tax return as a married filing jointly taxpayer or a married filing separately taxpayer.

However, if the spouse of the taxpayer died more than two years ago, then the taxpayer may qualify as a qualifying widow or qualifying widower or even the head of household tax filing status. However, if the taxpayer does not have a dependent child, then the taxpayer may have to file his or her tax return as a single taxpayer.