By Joy Taylor and Lisa Gerstner
From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Question: I’m having to file a tax return for someone who recently died. Any tips?
Answer: The returns should be signed by the executor or other representative and, if the decedent was married, the surviving spouse. If filing a paper return, write the word “deceased” and the decedent’s name and date of death at the top.
A court-appointed representative must attach a copy of the court document showing the appointment. Non-court-appointed representatives submit Form 1310 with the 1040 if seeking a refund. Surviving spouses needn’t file the 1310.
If there’s no representative, the surviving spouse would just sign his or her name and write “filing as surviving spouse” in the decedent’s signature box. A surviving spouse can use either married filing jointly or separately as the filing status for the year of the decedent’s final federal income tax return….