Contact CPA or Tax Professional

A CPA can identify filing deadlines that may be approaching (the final personal return is due April 15 of the year after death, or the normal filing deadline), determine whether estimated tax payments need to continue, advise on whether the estate needs its own tax ID number (EIN), and flag potential tax-saving opportunities that must be elected before deadlines pass. Early engagement prevents costly penalties and missed deductions.

Check the prior year's tax return—the preparer's name, firm, and PTIN (Preparer Tax Identification Number) are on the signature line at the bottom. Search email and files for correspondence from accounting firms. Check the deceased's checkbook or bank statements for payments to tax preparers. If you cannot find a prior preparer, ask the estate attorney for a referral, or search the IRS directory of enrolled agents at irs.treasury.gov.

Gather: the prior 2-3 years of tax returns, all income documents for the year of death (W-2s, 1099s, K-1s, Social Security statements), bank and investment account statements, records of any property sold or transferred, mortgage interest statements (Form 1098), medical expense receipts, charitable donation records, and the death certificate. Also bring Letters Testamentary or the trust document to establish your authority to act on behalf of the estate.

A final personal tax return (Form 1040) typically costs $300-$600 to prepare. An estate income tax return (Form 1041) costs $600-$2,000 depending on complexity. A federal estate tax return (Form 706, only required if the estate exceeds $13.61 million in 2024) costs $2,000-$10,000+ due to its complexity. State estate tax returns (in the 12 states plus DC that have them, often with lower thresholds) add $500-$2,000. Most CPAs bill hourly at $150-$400/hour for estate work.