Decedent married filing separately, spouse not claiming refund

[Jack from Ohio]

Clients married over 20 years. Passed away 8-12-11 He was 93 when he passed. Always insisted on MFS their entire married lives. (A widow and a widower married)

Decedent's son is executor. He is the one claiming the refund.

Form 1310 filled in, no issues there, until.....

I try to create the e-file and I get the red warning...

"When the Filing Status is married filing separately, the SSN of the person claiming the refund must equal the Secondary SSN on Form 1040/A/EZ"

If I change the status to single, I can create the e-file.

Am I destined to paper file this return?

[Yardley CPA]

Based on what you have described, it sounds like "paper" is in your future.

[kcjenkins]

Yes, paper file it. The IRS is only set up to handle efiles of this type return where the surviving spouse is claiming the refund. It's not a problem, just that it can not be efiled.