When Is An Estate Income Tax Return Due?

David M. Kaufmann, CPA

Voice: 720.493.4804

Physical Address:

2831 Wyecliff Way
Highlands Ranch, CO 80126

Mailing Address:

PO Box 632285
Highlands Ranch, CO 80163-2285

Does Your Tax Professional Know His Fiduciary (trust & estate) Tax Law?

Lets face it. It is hard to tell if a "professional" knows his stuff. So, how do you know if the guy that is about to prepare a trust or estate return for you knows his stuff?

I have a good test. Here is the question:

"When do you want the estate to have a shorter tax year than listed below?"

Note that the table below is for estate income tax returns, Form 1041, not estate tax returns, Form 706. If you have not already applied for the estate or trust's tax ID number, we would be glad to do it for $50. Call us at 1-720-493-4804. We will get the year-end and due date correct! (Also when you apply for the tax ID number, the IRS has important correspondence that includes a code needed to electronically file the tax return.)

Please note that the IRS Notice "CP 575 B" that assigns an employer ID number (tax ID number) to the estate will probably say that the Form 1041 is due on April 15. That is because the attorney or accountant that applied for the ID number may not understand when the tax return is due. (If they don't understand that, what else don't they understand!) That IRS notice is incorrect, unless the date of death is in January! The year - end that is specified on the first filed Form 1041 determines the year - end, not IRS Notice "CP 575 B." [Treasury Regulation §1.441-1(c)(1)]

Month of Death	Latest Year End The Next:	Due Date for Estate Income Tax Return
January	December 31	April 15
February	January 31	May 15
March	February 28 (29)	June 15
April	March 31	July 15
May	April 30	August 15
June	May 31	September 15
July	June 30	October 15
August	July 31	November 15
September	August 31	December 15
October	September 30	January 15
November	October 31	February 15
December	November 30	March 15

If you have questions about this, do not hesitate to contact us at 1-720-493-4804. We serve clients all over the country. A large portion of my business is preparing tax returns and tax planning for trusts, estates and beneficiaries of trusts and estates.

Circular 230 Notice:

The information contained here are simplifications of complex subjects. We recommend that you talk to a CPA about this issue.

To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, we inform you that (i) any tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

US Estate Income Tax Return
US Estate Income Tax Return Instructions
Colorado Estate Income Tax Return
IRS Publication 559