How does a widow request deceased spouse's tax information for filing final joint return?

First, please accept my condolences for your aunt's loss. This is definitely a difficult situation, but there are clear steps she can take. Yes, your aunt can absolutely request her deceased husband's tax information. As the surviving spouse who will be filing a joint return, she has the right to access his tax records. She should use Form 4506-T to request wage and income transcripts. She can sign it herself as the surviving spouse filing a joint return - no need for Form 2848 in this case. On the Form 4506-T, she should include her deceased husband's name, SSN, and date of death. In the signature section, she would sign her own name followed by "surviving spouse." It's helpful to attach a copy of the death certificate to avoid any processing delays. Regarding Form 56 (Notice of Fiduciary Relationship), it's not necessary for a surviving spouse filing a joint return. That form is more commonly used for executors of estates or when someone else is handling tax matters.

I went through something similar when my husband passed away. The tax stuff was overwhelming on top of everything else. I found this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that really helped me organize all the tax documents and figure out what I needed. They have this feature where you can upload any tax documents you do have, and they'll analyze them to identify what might be missing. It helped me discover my husband had a small 1099 from a consulting gig I didn't even know about. The system also walked me through exactly what forms I needed to file as a widow and gave me step-by-step guidance. It saved me so much stress trying to piece everything together during such a difficult time.

Just wanted to follow up - I decided to try taxr.ai after seeing this recommendation. What a relief! The document analysis feature identified that my father had dividend income I wasn't aware of and helped me locate the statements. It also walked me through exactly what to write on the 4506-T form to request the missing information, and explained exactly how to sign the final return as a surviving spouse. The step-by-step guidance for my specific situation made everything so much clearer than the general advice I was finding online. I'm so glad I didn't have to figure this out alone!

When my wife passed last year, I needed to get tax transcripts too. After spending WEEKS trying to get through to the IRS phone lines (kept getting disconnected after waiting for hours), I found this service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). They have a video explaining how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Basically, they get you connected with an actual IRS agent who can help with these kinds of requests. I was skeptical, but they got me through to a real person at the IRS within about 20 minutes instead of spending days redialing. The IRS agent was able to verify what forms I needed to submit and confirmed I could sign the 4506-T as a surviving spouse. For someone with mobility issues like your aunt, having a way to actually speak with the IRS without going in person was so helpful.

I need to apologize and correct myself. After posting my skeptical comment, I was desperate enough to try Claimyr, and I'm shocked to say it actually worked exactly as described. I got connected to an IRS representative in about 30 minutes (after previously spending 5+ hours over multiple days trying on my own). The agent walked me through exactly what my mom needed to do as a widow filing a final return, confirmed she could sign the 4506-T herself, and even noted some deductions we might qualify for that we hadn't considered. I was 100% wrong in my skepticism. For anyone dealing with this situation who needs specific guidance from the IRS, being able to actually speak with someone makes all the difference.

One additional thing your aunt should look into - when my father died, we found it super helpful to get the IRS's Record of Account transcript in addition to the Wage and Income transcript. This shows all activity on the tax account including payments made, refunds issued, etc. You can request this on the same Form 4506-T by checking the appropriate box. Having this complete picture really helped us make sure we weren't missing anything when preparing that final return.

Important tip: make sure your aunt files the final tax return with "DECEASED" written at the top of the form! We forgot to do this with my dad's final return and it caused a huge delay. Also, if your uncle had any refunds due, your aunt might need to file Form 1310 (Statement of Person Claiming Refund Due a Deceased Taxpayer) along with the tax return. Though sometimes the IRS doesn't require this from surviving spouses filing joint returns, having it ready can prevent delays.

Just remember that the deadline for filing that final joint return is still the regular tax deadline (April 15th usually, but April 15, 2024 for 2023 returns), unless you file for an extension. Being widowed doesn't automatically extend your filing time. Also, tell your aunt to check if her husband had any traditional IRAs. Those pass to beneficiaries but sometimes have tax consequences that need to be addressed in that final filing year.

I'm so sorry for your aunt's loss. This is such a difficult time, and dealing with tax matters on top of grief is overwhelming. One thing that might help organize this process: have your aunt gather any tax documents she can find first - last year's tax return, W-2s, 1099s, bank statements showing interest/dividends, etc. Even if incomplete, these will give you a roadmap of what income sources to look for. For the Form 4506-T request, she should request both the "Wage and Income Transcript" and "Account Transcript" for 2023. The wage transcript shows all the 1099s and W-2s filed under his SSN, while the account transcript shows if there were any prior payments or issues with previous returns. Also, don't forget to check if your uncle had any estimated tax payments for 2023 - these would show up on the account transcript and could significantly impact what's owed or refunded. Since she has mobility issues, everything can be done by mail. The IRS typically processes transcript requests within 5-10 business days when mailed. Make sure to include a copy of the death certificate with the Form 4506-T to avoid any delays. Hang in there - once you get the transcripts, the picture will become much clearer about what needs to be filed.

I'm so sorry for your aunt's loss. This is such a challenging situation to navigate while grieving. One important resource that hasn't been mentioned yet is the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS). Since your aunt has mobility issues and is dealing with a complex situation involving a deceased spouse, she may qualify for their assistance. TAS is a free service within the IRS that helps taxpayers resolve problems and navigate difficult situations. You can reach TAS at 1-877-777-4778, and they often can help expedite transcript requests or provide guidance on exactly what forms are needed in her specific situation. They're particularly helpful for taxpayers facing hardships, which certainly applies here. Also, if your uncle had any business income (Schedule C), rental properties (Schedule E), or investment accounts, those may require additional forms or have specific reporting requirements that could affect the final return. The transcripts will reveal these, but it's worth mentioning so you're prepared. One more practical tip: when your aunt signs the final joint return, she should use blue ink if possible. The IRS can better distinguish original signatures from photocopies, which can help avoid processing delays. Take care of yourselves during this difficult time. The tax situation will get resolved - focus on supporting your aunt through her grief as well.