Death and taxes - a question.

[tar heel]

With the tax deadline a week away, I'm second guessing my parents' taxes. They both died during 2011. If they were alive, they would not be required to file. They had, in fact, not filed in a few years except for when there was a stimulus check on the line. Are they required to file because they died? The return is easy except for one question (how much of the IRA disbursement was required). I can dig up the answer to that question, but it might require a 240-mile trip as those papers are still at their house.

 

[tar heel]

I think I found the answer to this -- it's "no."

 

[bumbershoot]

I would give the IRS a call. Just to make sure. And I'm really very sorry for your losses.

 

[Zim]

My father passed away in February - my tax lady informed me that he would not have had to file in 2011 because of his low earnings, so he doesn't need to file in 2012 either.

But in my case, there was no estate or anything. I don't know if it's different when you have to go through probate with estate taxes and all that. The laws on that stuff seem very state specific too. Might want to give a tax person in your state a call.

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for your losses. ((HUGS))

 

[debbiemomto4]

So sorry for your losses.

When my mother passed away I did not file for her but our lawyer filed estate taxes because she was part owner of a house. So you probably need to consult an estate lawyer if they owned property.

 

[Gigi22]

Do, please, contact the IRS. You may well find that there are special rules for taxes that have to be followed the year a person dies.
Where I live, in Canada, the tax rule is that you are deemed to have disposed of your property when you die--and the taxes have to be figured out accordingly. Completely different from the way anyone would normally file. Depending on timing, there may also be a need to file a tax return for an estate.
It can get pretty complex, so I'm thinking you should definitely call the IRS to find out what has to be done for your parents' taxes.