Final answer:
Bonita's filing status for the year 2016 would be Married Filing Jointly (MFJ), since her husband's death occurred in that year and they have two dependent children. She may qualify for Qualifying Widow(er) status in the following two years if she meets certain conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question deals with determining the correct filing status for Bonita after the death of her spouse, Juan, in the year 2016. Given that Juan died in November of 2016 and they have two dependent children, Bonita's filing status for the year 2016 would be Married Filing Jointly (MFJ). This status applies because Bonita was married to Juan for the majority of the tax year, and the event (Juan's death) occurred in the very same year for which the tax return is being filed.
For the next two years following the year of the spouse's death, Bonita may qualify for the Qualifying Widow(er) with Dependent Child status, provided she doesn't remarry and maintains a home for her dependent children. This status allows for a larger standard deduction and more favorable tax rates than filing as Single or Head of Household.