Taxes as Executor of Estate

[Nette]

Anyone know how I'm supposed to sign the 1040 for my dad's final tax return? Am I supposed to also include the Letter Testamentary that I received from the probate court? For some reason the darn irs website is crashing my browser. GRRRR.

Whole thing seems moot though since dad didn't have any income or pay any income taxes in 2009. But I want to make sure all my i's are dotted and t's are crossed.

Help!

 

[kirbydog48]

I would just sign it "John Smith, Executor, Estate of Bill Jones". I don't think it's necessary to include the letter.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If there was any overpayment and a refund is due, you need to attached a Form 1310 which you can see at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1310.pdf . And it would not hurt to fill one in and attach in anyway. The instructions for this form are very clear.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Anyone know how I'm supposed to sign the 1040 for my dad's final tax return? Am I supposed to also include the Letter Testamentary that I received from the probate court? For some reason the darn irs website is crashing my browser. GRRRR.

Whole thing seems moot though since dad didn't have any income or pay any income taxes in 2009. But I want to make sure all my i's are dotted and t's are crossed.

Help!

Final Income Tax Return for Decedent—Form 1040
The personal representative (defined earlier) must file the final income tax return (Form 1040) of the decedent for the year of death and any returns not filed for preceding years. A surviving spouse, under certain circumstances, may have to file the returns for the decedent. See Joint Return, later.

Return for preceding year. If an individual died after the close of the tax year, but before the return for that year was filed, the return for the year just closed will not be the final return. The return for that year will be a regular return and the personal representative must file it.

Example.

Samantha Smith died on March 21, 2009, before filing her 2008 tax return. Her personal representative must file her 2008 return by April 15, 2009. Her final tax return covering the period from January 1, 2009, to March 20, 2009, is due April 15, 2010.

Name, Address, and Signature
Write the word “DECEASED,” the decedent's name, and the date of death across the top of the tax return. If filing a joint return, write the name and address of the decedent and the surviving spouse in the name and address space. If a joint return is not being filed, write the decedent's name in the name space and the personal representative's name and address in the remaining space.

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p559/ar02.html#en_US_publink100099500