Final answer:
For the tax year 2023, 86-year-old Morgan Freeman can claim a standard deduction of $15,700, which includes the base amount for a single filer ($13,850) and an additional amount for being 65 or older ($1,850).
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of the question pertains to determining the standard deduction for Morgan Freeman for the tax year 2023. Given that Morgan Freeman is an 86-year-old widower with no dependents, his tax filing status is likely to be single. The IRS typically adjusts the standard deduction amounts each year for inflation.
For the tax year 2023, the standard deduction for a single filer is $13,850. However, taxpayers who are aged 65 or older are entitled to an additional standard deduction. For single filers, this additional amount is $1,850. Since Morgan Freeman is 86 years old, he qualifies for this additional deduction. Therefore, the total standard deduction that he can claim on his tax return for 2023 would be the sum of the standard deduction for a single filer ($13,850) and the additional standard deduction for seniors ($1,850), amounting to $15,700.