Taxes after my Wife has Passed

lenray · Nov 13, 2019

Just asking here as some have traveled down this road. My wife passed in Oct. of 2018--just shy of 51 years of marriage.
My 2018 taxes were as they have always been as she had lived 10 months of that year.
Now this year I will have to file as a single-widower--what changes will I be looking at??? Thank you for any help suggestions--len in michigan

Goose · Nov 13, 2019

I'd say check with a CPA.

And be aware that not all CPA's are created equal. I switched to a different CPA several years ago, and my new one reviewed the recent tax returns that the old one had done. The new one found several errors or omissions and filed amended returns. She got me several thousand dollars back on things my old CPA had missed.

8NChris · Nov 13, 2019

Sorry to hear that. We lost our 24 year old son in 2018. We can identify how difficult it is tying up loose ends. We look forward to the resurrection as Jesus performed.

wjytexas · Nov 13, 2019

A lot depends on how you file. Obviously, you'll have only one exemption/deduction. I had been itemizing due to very high medical expenses and paying very little income tax while she was alive but after her passing I was single and taking the standard deduction. My taxes went WAY up. I am sorry for your loss and as others have said, it might be a good idea to consult a professional this year.

K Effective · Nov 13, 2019

I'm sorry for your loss, LenRay- hopefully Dave here in MI can help, he does taxes in addition to farming, or farms in addition to doing taxes. He's really a pro in each area, where I am only an amateur in both.

When Dad passed, Mom decided to have a CPA do hers instead of me, as I had done theirs for 20plus years. It's not inexpensive, but gave her an extra level of confidence-she felt it worth the cost.

If everything else is equal, you can look forward to a lower standard deduction than a married couple, but that number was raised significantly in the past few years to limit the number of folks who can justify itemizing deductions.

ss55 · Nov 13, 2019

You may also have lower income if you are no longer including your wife's social security income. I would work with a CPA.

SHALER · Nov 13, 2019

A bit of a difficult question to answer since we cant see your 2018 return and other aspects of your financial life, but for sure your filing status will change to Single (unless you still have dependents around which I kind of doubt as you said you had been married for almost 51 years). I respectfully dont mean to insult your intelligence on tax matters but I am going to guess because of the way you asked the question you are not a tax pro. Unless you have some really complicated tax matters, you could have someone like a Jackson Hewitt or H&R Block crank out your return for not much money at all. They do a decent job with straight forward stuff. If you have any interest in taxes at all, you can then use that return as a jumping off point to do it yourself in future years.

pinball · Nov 13, 2019

Sorry about your loss. I would suspect the only thing that will change is your deductions and the loss of your wife's social security. since you only will be able to claim yourself your taxes might increase depending on your income. Assuming you just take the standard deduction.

Geo-TH,In · Nov 13, 2019

Sorry for your loss.
When my wife passed I made too much money count my daughter's college tuition as a deduction. I could the year before filing married.

Billy Shafer · Nov 13, 2019

I agree. Talk with someone that knows like a CPA.When my wife died. I had a lawyer friend help me. He showed me where the laws change from state to state.Talk with people that know.

dhermesc · Nov 13, 2019

If you want tax advise go to CPA - not a lawyer. Go to a lawyer if you want legal advice.

Lawyers are usually horrible when it comes to tax advice - even as staff accountant I had to clean up several messes created by lawyers trying to play tax advisor.

Dave H (MI) · Nov 13, 2019

Len, shoot me an email and I will answer all your questions. No charge of course. Don't use the button on here as it goes to my gmail account and it a massive pain. Send it to hagecpa AT aol.com and it will come to my office. I am out of town tomorrow thru Saturday but I will get back to you. If you don't hear back, I did not get it. Sorry for your loss. I'm willing to help.

Dave H (MI CPA)

Billy Shafer · Nov 13, 2019

This guy was both. A CPA and a Lawyer. He couldn't pour water out of can. With out screwing up.But he knew the law.

Andy Martin · Nov 13, 2019

(quoted from post at 16:30:25 11/13/19) Len, shoot me an email and I will answer all your questions. No charge of course. Don't use the button on here as it goes to my gmail account and it a massive pain. Send it to hagecpa AT aol.com and it will come to my office. I am out of town tomorrow thru Saturday but I will get back to you. If you don't hear back, I did not get it. Sorry for your loss. I'm willing to help.

Dave H (MI CPA)

You're my hero, Dave.

My wife passed this year but I have a CPA. Thanks for helping Len.

Traditional Farmer · Nov 14, 2019

Nice offer by Dave but you really need to find a CPA tax prepared in your area,people that think they are better off doing their own taxes are kidding themselves.Do you think you know the tax law well enough to handle an IRS audit by yourself?You and most others would be easy pickings for an IRS agent.

Taxes after my Wife has Passed

lenray

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Goose

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8NChris

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wjytexas

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K Effective

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ss55

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SHALER

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pinball

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Geo-TH,In

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Billy Shafer

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dhermesc

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Dave H (MI)

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Billy Shafer

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Andy Martin

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Traditional Farmer

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