Estate Planning Practice Blog

Filing Taxes for Those Who Have Passed Away.

The executor or personal representative of the decedent's estate is responsible for ensuring that proper tax returns are filed.  These tax returns may include the final income tax return of the decedent and any returns not filed for preceding years, the income tax return for the estate and the estate tax return. [Sounds like blah, blah, blah, eh?]

Needless to say, taxes are due on April 17, 2006 for 2005 returns. If you need to file an extension, please do. Handling this aspect of a decedent's estate can be much more time-consuming than normal.

For more information, please consult with your attorney, tax accountant or the IRS. The IRS has more information on its website under Tax Topic -- 356 Decedents.

Do Not Call List for the Departed.

Camie Pickett, who practices law in both Arizona and California, posted a useful link to the Do Not Call List for the deceased in her blog post on March 11.

To go directly to the Direct Marketing Association's website for more information about the Do Not Call List for the deceased, please click here.

Contacting Social Security After Someone Dies

If you will be in charge of handling a loved one's estate after they pass away, please be sure to contact Social Security and notify them of the death. You will want to stop all payments to the decedent's estate otherwise you may have to refund or send back the check(s) to Social Security.  You will also want to check to see if there are any death benefits available as well.

The toll free telephone number is 1-800-772-1213 or click here  for more information directly from Social Security.