One thing to watch out for - with that large amount coming in, your mom is likely to be targeted by financial "advisors" who are really just insurance salespeople trying to sell her annuities or whole life policies. These products usually come with HUGE commissions for the salesperson and restrictions on accessing the money. They'll use scare tactics about taxes to push these products. Instead, look for a fee-only fiduciary financial advisor (they legally must act in her best interest). Check credentials - look for a CFP (Certified Financial Planner). Initial consultation should be free, and they should clearly explain how they're compensated.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your father. Managing a large inheritance while grieving is incredibly overwhelming. One critical point that hasn't been fully addressed - make sure the trust executor provides your mother with a Schedule K-1 showing her share of any trust income for the tax year. Even though the inheritance itself isn't taxable, if the trust generated income while the property was being sold, she may owe taxes on her portion of that income. Also, since your mom has been living on just $1,900/month in Social Security, this inheritance could dramatically change her tax situation going forward. The investment income from $1.5 million could easily push her into higher tax brackets and trigger additional Medicare premiums (IRMAA surcharges). I'd strongly recommend meeting with both a tax professional AND a fee-only financial advisor before the money arrives. Having a plan in place will prevent rushed decisions. Consider strategies like tax-loss harvesting, municipal bonds for tax-free income, and perhaps spreading some investments across tax-deferred accounts if she has earned income. Most importantly, don't let anyone pressure her into immediate decisions. Legitimate financial professionals will encourage taking time to make thoughtful choices.

One thing nobody's mentioned yet - make sure you check if your state has an inheritance tax! Federal step-up basis rules are great, but I got caught off guard last year because my state (Pennsylvania) has its own inheritance tax that applies regardless of whether you sell the assets or not. It's not just PA - Nebraska, Iowa, Kentucky, New Jersey, and Maryland also have inheritance taxes, and they all work differently. My brother lives in a different state than me and we had completely different tax situations even though we inherited identical assets. The step-up in basis for federal taxes is awesome, but don't get blindsided by state-level taxes like I did!

Make sure you get proper valuations for any hard-to-value assets in your inheritance! My dad left me some closely-held business interests and collectible coins that weren't publicly traded. The executor used a ballpark estimate for the business interests, but when I sold them 2 years later, the IRS questioned my basis and I had to pay for a retroactive professional valuation. For the coins, I had to hire a numismatic expert. For your stocks, if they're publicly traded, it's pretty straightforward - just the closing price on date of death (or alternate valuation date if the executor chose that). But for anything without a clear market value, document document document!

Has anyone used TurboTax to handle estimated taxes for capital gains? Their interface is confusing me and I can't figure out where to input the estimated payment I already made.

Just want to add that if your capital gains came from crypto, make sure you're tracking all your transactions properly. The IRS is really cracking down on crypto reporting. I learned this the hard way when I got a CP2000 notice questioning my crypto gains.

Has anyone looked into selling development rights through a conservation easement? We did this with part of our family property and it both reduced the taxable value of the estate AND preserved the land from future development.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned here is the possibility of filing for a Section 6161 extension to pay estate taxes. While everyone's talking about the Section 6166 installment plan (which is great for qualifying business/farm property), Section 6161 allows you to request an extension of up to 10 years to pay estate taxes when you can demonstrate reasonable cause - like having illiquid assets. You'll need to pay interest on the unpaid tax, but it gives you time to potentially lease out portions of the farmland, sell timber rights, or explore other income-generating options without having to sell the actual property. The IRS is generally more flexible with these extensions when dealing with family farms that have been in operation for generations. Another option to consider is a qualified personal residence trust (QPRT) if your grandmother's home is on the property. This can help remove the residence value from her estate while allowing her to continue living there. Given her age, the remainder interest discount could be significant. I'd definitely recommend getting a professional appraisal done soon to establish current values, especially if the property has unique characteristics that might support a lower valuation for estate tax purposes.

Has anyone used an online service like Zillow or Redfin to establish the value for step-up basis instead of paying for a formal appraisal? My dad passed 3 months ago and we're trying to figure out if we need to spend the money on an appraisal or if printed Zillow estimates from the date of death would be enough for the IRS.

I'm really sorry for your loss, Megan. Losing a parent is incredibly difficult, and dealing with all the financial and tax implications on top of grief is so overwhelming. The step-up in basis is definitely one of the most beneficial tax provisions for inherited property. As others have mentioned, your basis "steps up" to the fair market value at the date of your father's death (around $450,000 based on your appraisal), not his original purchase price of $125,000. One thing I'd add is that you have some flexibility in timing. There's no requirement to sell immediately - you can take time to grieve and make decisions when you're ready. If you're considering keeping it as a rental, remember that you'd use that stepped-up basis for depreciation calculations, which can provide significant tax benefits over time. Also, don't forget about any estate administration expenses (attorney fees, court costs, etc.) that might be deductible. Keep good records of all costs related to settling the estate and transferring the property. Take your time with this decision - there's no rush, and the tax advantages will be there whenever you decide what's best for your situation.