• Above the name line on the return - the area where you enter your name and address, check the box "Deceased," and enter your spouse’s date of death.
• When you're a surviving spouse filing a joint return and a personal representative hasn't been appointed, you should sign the return and write "filing as surviving spouse" in the signature area below your signature.
• When you're a surviving spouse filing a joint return and a personal representative has been appointed, you and the personal representative should sign the return.

A deceased taxpayer's tax return can be filed electronically. Follow the specific directions provided by your preparation software for proper signature and notation requirements.
Note: You can't file a final joint return with your deceased spouse if you as the surviving spouse remarried before the end of the year of your spouse’s death. The filing status of the decedent in this instance is married filing separately.