Page 85 - Individual Forms & Instructions Guide

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The type and rule above prints on all proofs including departmental reproduction proofs. MUST be removed before printing.
ter the date the original return was filed for all of 2022. Enter “Filing as surviv- vestment firms (Form 1099), you have
or within 2 years after the date the tax ing spouse” in the area where you sign several options to choose from to pre-
was paid, whichever is later. But you the return. If someone else is the person- pare and file your tax return. You can
may have more time to file Form al representative, they must also sign. prepare the return yourself, see if you
1040-X if you live in a federally de- All payers of income, including fi- qualify for free tax preparation, or hire a
clared disaster area or you are physically nancial institutions, should be promptly tax professional to prepare your return.
or mentally unable to manage your fi- notified of the taxpayer's death. This Free options for tax preparation. Go
nancial affairs. See Pub. 556 for details.
will ensure the proper reporting of in- to IRS.gov to see your options for pre-
Use the Where's My Amended Return come earned by the taxpayer's estate or paring and filing your return online or in
application on IRS.gov to track the sta- heirs. A deceased taxpayer's social se- your local community, if you qualify,
tus of your amended return. It can take curity number shouldn't be used for tax which include the following.
up to 3 weeks from the date you mailed years after the year of death, except for • Free File. This program lets you
it to show up in our system. estate tax return purposes. prepare and file your federal individual
income tax return for free using
Claiming a Refund for a
Need a Copy of Your Deceased Taxpayer brand-name-tax preparation-and-filing
software or Free File fillable forms.
Tax Return Information? If you are filing a joint return with your However, state tax preparation may not
Tax return transcripts are free and are deceased spouse, you only need to file be available through Free File. Go to
generally used to validate income and the tax return to claim the refund. If you IRS.gov/FreeFile to see if you qualify
tax filing status for mortgage applica- are a court-appointed representative, file for free online federal tax preparation,
tions, student and small business loan the return and include a copy of the cer- e-filing, and direct deposit or payment
applications, and during tax return prep- tificate that shows your appointment. All options.
aration. To get a free transcript: other filers requesting the deceased tax- • VITA. The Volunteer Income Tax
• Visit IRS.gov/Transcript, payer's refund must file the return and Assistance (VITA) program offers free
tax help to people with low-to-moderate
• Use Form 4506-T or 4506T-EZ, or attach Form 1310. incomes, persons with disabilities, and
• Call us at 800-908-9946. For more details, use Tax Topic 356 limited-English-speaking taxpayers who
If you need a copy of your actual tax or see Pub. 559. need help preparing their own tax re-
return, use Form 4506. There is a fee for turns. Go to IRS.gov/VITA, download
each return requested. See Form 4506 Past Due Returns the free IRS2Go app, or call
for the current fee. If your main home, If you or someone you know needs to 800-906-9887 for information on free
principal place of business, or tax re- file past due tax returns, use Tax Topic tax return preparation.
cords are located in a federally declared 153 or go to IRS.gov/Individuals for • TCE. The Tax Counseling for the
disaster area, this fee will be waived. Elderly (TCE) program offers free tax
help in filing those returns. Send the re- help for all taxpayers, particularly those
Death of a Taxpayer turn to the address that applies to you in who are 60 years of age and older. TCE
the latest Form 1040 and 1040-SR in-
If a taxpayer died before filing a return structions. For example, if you are filing volunteers specialize in answering ques-
tions about pensions and retirement-rela-
for 2022, the taxpayer's spouse or per- a 2019 return in 2023, use the address at ted issues unique to seniors. Go to
sonal representative may have to file and the end of these instructions. However, IRS.gov/TCE, download the free
sign a return for that taxpayer. A person- if you got an IRS notice, mail the return IRS2Go app, or call 888-227-7669 for
al representative can be an executor, ad- to the address in the notice. information on free tax return prepara-
ministrator, or anyone who is in charge tion.
of the deceased taxpayer's property. If How To Get Tax Help
• MilTax. Members of the U.S.
the deceased taxpayer didn't have to file If you have questions about a tax issue; Armed Forces and qualified veterans
a return but had tax withheld, a return need help preparing your tax return; or may use MilTax, a free tax service of-
must be filed to get a refund. The person want to download free publications, fered by the Department of Defense
who files the return must enter “De- forms, or instructions, go to IRS.gov to through Military OneSource. For more
ceased,” the deceased taxpayer's name, find resources that can help you right information, go to MilitaryOneSource
and the date of death across the top of away. (MilitaryOneSource.mil/MilTax).
the return. If this information isn't provi-
ded, it may delay the processing of the Preparing and filing your tax return. Also, the IRS offers Free Fillable
return. After receiving all your wage and earn- Forms, which can be completed online
ings statements (Forms W-2, W-2G, and then filed electronically regardless
If your spouse died in 2022 and you 1099-R, 1099-MISC, 1099-NEC, etc.); of income.
didn't remarry in 2022, or if your spouse unemployment compensation statements Using online tools to help prepare
died in 2023 before filing a return for (by mail or in a digital format) or other your return. Go to IRS.gov/Tools for
2022, you can file a joint return. A joint government payment statements (Form the following.
return should show your spouse's 2022 1099-G); and interest, dividend, and re-
income before death and your income tirement statements from banks and in-

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