Filing MFJ Tax Return for Deceased Couple - Both Spouses Passed Away

I'm sorry for your loss. This is actually a specific situation addressed in IRS rules. When both taxpayers are deceased, and they're filing a joint return (MFJ), both personal representatives must sign the return. You'll each need to sign on behalf of the respective deceased taxpayer you represent. On the signature line, you should write "Personal Representative for [deceased person's name]" after your signature. Also, be sure to write "DECEASED" across the top of the return along with the dates of death for both taxpayers. This is covered in IRS Publication 559 (Survivors, Executors, and Administrators). You might also need to attach copies of the court certificates showing your appointment as personal representatives, depending on whether you've filed these with the IRS previously.

After dealing with a similar nightmare situation last year with my parents' taxes, I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) to be a lifesaver for complicated estate-related tax questions. My sister and I were personal representatives for our parents who passed within weeks of each other, and we were totally lost with the final tax filing requirements. I uploaded the death certificates and court appointment documents to taxr.ai, and they analyzed everything and provided detailed instructions specific to our situation about signature requirements, deadlines, and even identified some deductions we would have missed. It saved us from making some major mistakes on the final return and potentially facing penalties.

Just wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here. I was really struggling with my parents' final joint return and feeling overwhelmed by conflicting advice. I decided to give it a try since I was stuck. I uploaded my court appointment document as personal representative and my mom's death certificate (dad passed in 2024 and mom early 2025), and got incredibly detailed guidance. They pointed out that I needed my brother (the other personal representative) to sign as well - something my tax preparer hadn't mentioned! Also helped me understand exactly where and how to note the deceased status properly. Definitely saved me from a potential rejection of the return.

If you're having trouble getting clear answers from the IRS about deceased taxpayer filing requirements, try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I spent WEEKS trying to get through to the IRS about filing a final return for my deceased parents. After using their service, I had an IRS rep on the phone within 45 minutes who walked me through the entire process of handling signatures for both personal representatives and what documentation needed to be attached. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. I was skeptical, but they somehow got me past the IRS phone system that had been hanging up on me for days. The agent confirmed both representatives need to sign, explained exactly how to note the deceased status, and gave me the specific publication numbers to reference.

I need to apologize for my skepticism about Claimyr. After bashing it here, I decided to try it anyway because I was at my wit's end trying to reach the IRS about my parents' estate taxes. To my complete shock, I got connected to an actual IRS representative in about an hour. The agent confirmed both personal representatives must sign the MFJ return for deceased taxpayers and directed me to the specific sections in Publication 559 that cover this. She even explained some special provisions for estate tax relief I had no idea existed. I'm still processing how much time I wasted trying to get this information on my own. Consider me converted from biggest skeptic to relieved customer.

Tax preparer here - just want to add that you'll also need to submit Form 56 (Notice Concerning Fiduciary Relationship) for EACH of the deceased taxpayers if you haven't done so already. This formally notifies the IRS of your roles as personal representatives. And don't forget to check if either spouse had any outstanding estimated tax payments that need to be accounted for on the final return.

Just went through this with my in-laws who both passed last year. One thing nobody mentioned yet - if you're paper filing, you should attach a copy of each death certificate to the return. Makes processing faster. If you e-file, keep the death certificates with your records in case of audit. Also remember you can claim medical expenses paid within one year after death on that final return - we found over $4,000 in deductible expenses that were paid from the estate after my father-in-law's passing.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Aiden. This is definitely one of the more complex tax situations to navigate during an already difficult time. The previous responses are correct - both personal representatives must sign the final joint return. Here's what I learned when I handled a similar situation for my grandparents: 1. Both you and your cousin need to sign on the signature lines, writing "Personal Representative for [deceased name]" after each signature 2. Write "DECEASED" at the top with both names and death dates 3. Each of you should file Form 56 for your respective deceased taxpayer 4. Keep detailed records of who paid what expenses - sometimes estate expenses can be deductible One thing that really helped me was creating a shared folder with my co-personal representative so we could both access all the documents needed. We had to coordinate on gathering W-2s, 1099s, and other tax documents from multiple sources. The IRS does give estates more time in certain situations, but don't delay too long. If you run into complications or need extensions, there are specific procedures for deceased taxpayer situations that differ from regular extensions. Hang in there - it's a lot of paperwork but you're doing the right thing by being thorough about following the proper procedures.

I'm really sorry for your loss, Aiden. Dealing with tax matters while grieving is incredibly difficult, and you're handling a lot right now. From what I understand about IRS requirements for deceased taxpayer joint returns, both personal representatives do need to sign the final return. Each of you will sign for your respective deceased taxpayer - so you'll sign as personal representative for your aunt, and your cousin will sign as personal representative for your uncle. Make sure to write "DECEASED" at the top of the return with both names and their dates of death. On the signature lines, you should each write something like "Personal Representative for [deceased person's name]" after your signatures. One practical tip: coordinate with your cousin early on gathering all the necessary tax documents (W-2s, 1099s, bank statements, etc.) since you'll both need access to complete information for the joint return. It might help to create a shared system for organizing everything. The IRS Publication 559 covers survivors and executors in detail if you need the official guidance. Don't hesitate to reach out to a tax professional if the situation gets too complex - sometimes the peace of mind is worth the cost during such a difficult time. Take care of yourself through this process!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Aiden. Losing both your aunt and uncle so close together must be incredibly difficult, and having to navigate the tax complexities on top of everything else is overwhelming. Everyone here has given you excellent guidance about the signature requirements - yes, both you and your cousin will need to sign as personal representatives for your respective deceased taxpayers. One thing I'd add that might help with the coordination challenge you and your cousin are facing: consider setting up a brief phone call or meeting to go through the process together. You can divide up the document gathering tasks (maybe one of you handles medical/investment records while the other focuses on employment documents), but make sure you're both reviewing the complete picture before filing. Also, don't feel like you have to rush through this alone. Many tax professionals have experience with deceased taxpayer returns and can guide you through the specific requirements while ensuring you don't miss any potential deductions or make procedural errors. Given that you're both serving as personal representatives for the first time, the professional guidance might actually save you time and stress in the long run. The most important thing is that you're being thorough and asking the right questions. Your aunt and uncle would be proud of how carefully you're handling their affairs during such a difficult time.