TurboTax HelpTurboTax HelpIntuit

How do I file a final return for someone who has passed away?

by TurboTax•3• Updated 2 weeks ago

We're very sorry for your loss. 

The CRA requires all final returns to be paper filed. You'll need to print out and mail their return directly instead of using any electronic filing options.

When you're ready to begin the filing process, select your product below and follow the instructions.

  1. When starting the return, on the Which of these applied to you in 2024? screen, select This return is for a deceased person and select Continue.
  2. On the Who are you preparing this return for? screen:
    1. Select Someone Else.
    2. Answer Yes to Are you preparing a married/common-law return?, then select Continue.
  3. On the Let's get started! What's their name? screen:
    1. Enter the name of the deceased.
    2. Check the box for This return is for a deceased person.
    3. Enter their date of death.
    4. Select Continue.
  4. On the What’s [the decedent’s] spouse/partner’s name? screen, enter the surviving  spouse/partner’s name and select Continue.
  5. On the Filing for someone who has passed away - whose return would you like to prepare first? screen, select the decedent.
  6. On the What was your marital status on December 31, 2024? screen, this is referring to the decedent, so:
    1. Select Married / Common-law as applicable.
    2. Answer the question about the year.
    3. Select Continue.
  7. Continue completing the decedent's and spouse's personal information profiles.
  8. On the Tax Home screen, under To do, select Tax Profile, and complete the tax profile screens for the decedent.
  9. From the Tax home screen:
    1. Go to each of the applicable remaining sections of the decedent’s return and enter the required info for each section.
    2. Select Review and complete the review.
    3. Select Finish and file and follow the instructions to print the return.
  1. On the What's your marital status? screen, enter the marital status right before their date of death and continue.
  2. On the Where did you live at the end of the year? screen, enter the province where the deceased lived right before their date of death and continue.
  3. On the Personal information screen, enter their personal info and date of death, then continue.
  4. On the Information for [name] screen, enter:
    • The mailing address of where the notice of assessment should be sent
    • An appropriate your name in the Care of: field
    • Answers to the Additional Personal Information questions
  5. On the Information about your spouse or common-law partner screen, enter the information of the spouse/common-law partner (if applicable), including their net income and Amount on line 8 of their provincial schedule 428.
  6. Proceed until you reach the What happened for you in 2024? section:
    1. Select the type of income you're reporting for the deceased. 
    2. If there is pension income, and you want to split eligible pension income between spouses, select Yes for Do you want to split eligible pension income with a spouse or common-law partner (if applicable)?  Later, you'll provide more information and the software will calculate the maximum eligible transferable amount of the spouse/common-law partner. This amount will be reported separately on the spouse/partner’s tax return.
    3. If a principal residence was transferred to the spouse/common-law partner, indicate Yes for Did you dispose of a property(s) in 2024, that was your principal residence? Later, you'll indicate the property was disposed of because the owner passed away, and you'll provide information about the transferee and the purchase price and fair market value on the date of death.
  7. Continue the EasyStep interview process to complete the preparation and printing of the return.