“Should You File a Joint Tax Return After Your Spouse’s Death?”

– The personal representative of a deceased spouse is responsible for filing an income tax return for the year of death.
– Income included on the final return is based on the deceased’s usual tax accounting method.
– The surviving spouse can file a joint return with the personal representative or alone if a personal representative hasn’t been appointed yet. 1. Filing jointly may lead to higher adjusted gross income, which could reduce the tax benefits of certain deductible expenses.

2. It’s important to crunch the numbers and assess tax liability based on both joint and separate returns, as well as other filing options like qualifying widow(er) and head-of-household status.

3. KSDT CPA is available to help navigate the tax filing process and provide guidance on the best approach for your situation. Fill out a form on their website to get in touch with their team.

Should you file a joint tax return for the year of your spouse’s death?