Robert A. Imparato, Jr CFP®

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional

 

Craig A. Hyldahl CFP®

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional

 

R.I.C.H. Planning Group, LLC

105 Fieldcrest Avenue, Suite #507

Edison, NJ 08837

 

Robert: 732-326-5240

Craig:   732-326-5240

Fax:     732-326-5331

 

Robert: robert@richplanninggroup.com

Craig: craig@richplanninggroup.com

Website: www.richplanninggroup.com

November/December 2020

Widowed Parents and Taxes

Widowed Parents and Taxes

Life can be turned upside down in a minute. A sudden car accident could result in someone becoming a widow(er). That type of event changes everything, including your tax filing status. It is especially difficult for parents of minor children. Here’s a brief overview of what any recently-widowed parent should know.


Filing Status
You may retain the married filing jointly status for the year in which your spouse died, even if you filed separately. This is important, because it lets you keep a much higher standard deduction, which is $24,800 in 2020.


After that, you may be able to file as qualifying widow(er) with a dependent child status for up to two years. This would allow you to retain the same standard deduction as married filing jointly.


Who Qualifies?
Here are some general requirements for filing as a qualifying widow(er) with a dependent child:


  • You must have qualified for married filing jointly status in the year of your spouse’s death;

  • You have a dependent child, stepchild, or adopted child (not foster child) living with you, or temporarily at school, and you pay over 50% of the costs of your home;

  • You have not remarried. Remarriage in the same year as a death would require the widow(er) to file as either married filing jointly with their new spouse or married filing separately. With either, a married filing separately tax return would need to be filed for the deceased spouse.


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Securities offered through Equitable Advisors, LLC (NY,NY (212) 314-4600), member FINRA,SIPC (Equitable Financial Advisors in MI & TN). Investment advisory products and services offered through Equitable Advisors, LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor. Annuity and insurance products offered through Equitable Network, LLC, which conducts business in California as Equitable Network Insurance Agency of California, LLC; in Utah as Equitable Network Insurance Agency of Utah, LLC; and in PR as Equitable Network of Puerto Rico, Inc. Equitable Advisors and Equitable Network are affiliated companies and do not provide tax or legal advice. R.I.C.H. Planning Group, LLC is not owned or operated by Equitable Advisors or Equitable Network. Equitable Advisors and Equitable Network are brand names for Equitable Advisors, LLC and Equitable Network, LLC, respectively. GE-4833845.1 (7/22)(Exp. 7/24) CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ are certification marks owned by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.
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