In January 2018, Jake's wife dies and he does not remarry. For tax year 2018, Jake may not be able to use the filing status available to married persons filing joint returns.

Question

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When a taxpayer's spouse dies and they do not remarry during the same tax year, they are considered unmarried for the entire year. This means they cannot use the filing status available to married persons filing joint returns. They may, however, be eligible to use the filing status of qualifying widow(er) with dependent child for the two years following their spouse's death, provided they meet certain requirements.

In January 2018, Jake's Wife Dies and He Does Not