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Does IRS know when someone dies?

On the final tax return, the surviving spouse or representative will note that the person has died. The IRS doesn't need any other notification of the death. Usually, the representative filing the final tax return is named in the person's will or appointed by a court.

irs.gov - How to file a final tax return for someone who has passed away - IRS

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IRS Tax Tip 2022-96, June 23, 2022

When someone dies, their surviving spouse or representative files the deceased person's final tax return. On the final tax return, the surviving spouse or representative will note that the person has died. The IRS doesn't need any other notification of the death. Usually, the representative filing the final tax return is named in the person's will or appointed by a court. Sometimes when there isn't a surviving spouse or appointed representative, a personal representative will file the final return.

Here are some things to know about filing the final return

The IRS considers someone married for the entire year that their husband or wife died if they don't remarry during that year. The surviving spouse is eligible to use filing status married filing jointly or married filing separately. The final return is due by the regular April tax date unless the surviving spouse or representative has an extension to file.

Who should sign the return

When e-filing, the surviving spouse or representative should follow the directions provided by the software for the correct signature and notation requirements. For paper returns, the filer should write the word deceased, the deceased person's name and the date of death across the top. Here's who should sign the return: Any appointed representative must sign the return. If it's a joint return, the surviving spouse must also sign it. If there isn't an appointed representative, the surviving spouse filing a joint return should sign the return and write in the signature area labeled, filing as surviving spouse. If there's no appointed representative and no surviving spouse, the person in charge of the deceased person's property must file and sign the return as "personal representative."

Qualifying widow or widower

Surviving spouses with dependent children may be able to file as a Qualifying Widow(er) for two years after their spouse's death. This filing status allows them to use joint return tax rates and the highest standard deduction amount if they don't itemize deductions.

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Can two ex wives collect Social Security?

A widow or widower and a divorced ex-spouse (or multiple ex-spouses) can draw survivor benefits on the same person's earnings record without affecting what the other receives.

aarp.org - Multiple Marriages and Social Security Survivor Benefits - AARP

Anyone who was married to a Social Security beneficiary can potentially receive survivor benefits on the death of that person. That includes divorced former spouses as well as the deceased's husband or wife at the time of death. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Join Now In most cases, a widow or widower must have been married to the deceased for a minimum of nine months to qualify for survivor benefits. For a divorced spouse, the marriage must have lasted at least 10 years. Eligible spouses and ex-spouses can receive up to 100 percent of the late beneficiary's monthly Social Security payment, if they have reached full retirement age, or FRA. For people claiming survivor benefits, FRA is currently 66. It will increase to 66 and 2 months for people born in 1957 and rise incrementally to 67 for people born in 1962 and after. You can file for survivor benefits earlier — the minimum age is 60 in most cases — but your monthly benefit will be reduced by as much as 28.5 percent.

Keep in mind

A widow or widower and a divorced ex-spouse (or multiple ex-spouses) can draw survivor benefits on the same person's earnings record without affecting what the other receives.