Can a tax refund reduce a joint tax debt after a spouse dies? | NC

About this video

Q: Can a tax refund be applied to reduce a joint tax debt when one spouse has died? A: Yes—when a refund is tied to a joint income tax return, it can be used to reduce a joint tax debt even after one spouse dies, because spouses who file jointly are generally both responsible for the tax due on that joint return. In probate, the practical issue is figuring out who actually owns the refund—the…