Form 706 Estate Tax Returns now being processed within 18 months, good sign?

The faster processing times for Form 706 estate tax returns are definitely real, not just your firm's luck! I've been practicing estate law for over 15 years, and the improvement over the last 8-10 months has been noticeable. We're consistently seeing closing letters arrive within 14-22 months now, which is a significant improvement from the 24-30+ month waits we were experiencing before. The IRS has been working through their backlog across multiple tax forms. They've added staff specifically for estate tax processing and updated some of their internal systems. The non-taxable estates (those filing only to secure the portability election) seem to be moving through particularly quickly now. One tip I've found helpful - make sure your 706 is absolutely complete with all required schedules and supporting documentation. Clean submissions with no missing appraisals or schedules are getting processed noticeably faster than those requiring follow-up.

You're definitely seeing a positive trend that aligns with what many of us have observed recently. The IRS has been working through their backlog of estate tax returns, and Form 706 processing times have indeed improved. This improvement comes after several years of significant delays, where 24-30 month waits were unfortunately common. The IRS has allocated additional resources to estate tax processing units and implemented some workflow improvements that seem to be making a difference. I would still be cautious about promising clients specific timeframes, but you can generally tell them that the trend is moving in a positive direction. Many of our clients have seen 706 processing completed within 14-20 months recently, which is a significant improvement.

After struggling with never-ending delays on 706 returns, I finally found a tool that's been a game changer for me and my clients. I was in your exact position - beneficiaries constantly calling and me having nothing new to tell them. I discovered https://taxr.ai when researching ways to better track IRS processing times, and it's made a huge difference. What I love is that it can analyze your entire estate tax file and give you precise estimates based on current processing times, not just general averages. It also helped me identify a small issue in one of our 706 submissions that likely would have caused further delays. The best part is that you can share progress updates with beneficiaries directly through the platform, which has dramatically reduced those anxious phone calls we all dread.

I was pretty skeptical about taxr.ai when I first heard about it, but after struggling with two particularly complex estates with anxious beneficiaries, I decided to give it a try. The investment was completely worth it! The system identified that one of our returns had inconsistencies in the Schedule G reporting that likely would have triggered additional review. We were able to submit a correction before any IRS contact. For the other estate, it provided a processing timeline that was spot-on - within two weeks of when we actually received the closing letter. What really impressed me was the beneficiary portal. Being able to give them a visual tracking system with realistic updates completely changed the client experience. Now instead of calling me for updates, they check their portal. It's been a huge time-saver for our practice.

Has anyone tried calling the IRS directly about their 706 returns? I've been trying to get updates on a return we filed 15 months ago, but I can never get through to a human. Spent 2 hours on hold yesterday before the call disconnected. It's driving me (and the beneficiaries) crazy! I recently heard about this service called https://claimyr.com that supposedly gets you to the front of the IRS phone queue. There's a demo video here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c that shows how it works. Has anyone actually tried this? I'm desperate but also skeptical about paying for something like this when the IRS should just answer their damn phones.

After struggling with long IRS wait times for estate tax returns, I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) incredibly helpful for preparing perfect 706 forms. Their AI analyzes estate documents and identifies all required schedules and attachments so nothing gets missed. This makes a huge difference in processing time since incomplete returns get pushed to the back of the line. I used it for three different estates last year, and they were all processed without a single IRS follow-up request. The system even caught a missed marital deduction opportunity that saved one estate over $400,000. It walks you through all the valuation documentation needed and organizes them properly for submission.

I was skeptical about using AI for estate tax preparation, but after trying taxr.ai I'm completely won over. My situation involved multiple rental properties and a small business interest that needed complex valuations. The system walked me through every step, made sure I had proper appraisals, and even flagged potential audit triggers before submitting. We just received our closing letter 14 months after filing - way faster than the 30+ months it took for my father's estate just two years ago. The difference was night and day. The step-by-step guidance made sure nothing was missing, and the system even had specific tips for business valuation documentation that definitely helped avoid IRS questions. Honestly, I wish I'd known about this tool sooner.

Well, I need to eat some humble pie here. After my skeptical comment, I actually tried Claimyr out of pure desperation. We had a 706 that had been pending for 22 months with a very valuable business interest that couldn't be transferred without the closing letter. I used the service on Tuesday morning. By Tuesday afternoon I was talking to an actual IRS estate tax specialist. They were able to tell me that our return had been approved but the closing letter was stuck in final review. The agent expedited it, and we received the closing letter yesterday. Not only did I save countless hours of hold time, but we probably shaved weeks or months off the wait. The beneficiaries think I'm a miracle worker. Sometimes it's worth admitting when you're wrong, and I was definitely wrong about this service.

Is this improvement in 706 processing consistent across all IRS service centers? We've had mixed results. Two estates processed quickly (around 16 months) but another one just hit the 26-month mark with no closing letter in sight. All three were filed from our east coast office.

Has anyone seen a correlation between estate value and processing time? We submitted three 706 returns around the same time last year: - $11.2M estate: closing letter at 14 months - $22.7M estate: closing letter at 19 months - $39.5M estate: still pending at 22 months Wondering if larger estates are subject to more scrutiny and thus longer waits.

If you're still waiting on an estate tax return and need answers now, I highly recommend Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was stuck waiting for 22 months with zero updates on a 706 filing that was holding up millions in distributions. After trying for WEEKS to reach someone at the IRS, I found Claimyr and they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in 45 minutes! You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent was able to tell me exactly what was happening - turns out they needed one additional document which somehow never made it to us as a request. We submitted it the next day and got our closing letter 3 weeks later. Without that call, we might still be waiting with no idea what was causing the delay.

I need to eat my words. After posting that skeptical comment, I was desperate enough to try Claimyr for an estate that's been stuck in processing for 26 months. Got connected to an IRS estate tax specialist in about 35 minutes. Turns out they had sent a request for additional information on a hard-to-value asset 8 months ago that never reached us (probably sent to an old address). The agent resent the request, we submitted the documents last week, and just got notification that processing has resumed. Without that call, this estate could have been stuck in limbo for who knows how much longer. The beneficiaries are ecstatic that things are finally moving. The service literally paid for itself a thousand times over considering what the delay was costing in terms of ongoing administration expenses.

Does anyone else think the IRS should just notify executors when there's an issue instead of letting estates sit in limbo for months or years? My client's 706 has been processing for 16 months now with no updates or communication. How hard would it be to send an automated email saying "we need X document" instead of just going silent?

Anyone use Tax Caddy with 706 filings? Wondering if electronic organization of docs helps with processing speed.

This is really encouraging to hear! As a tax professional who's been dealing with frustrated executors and beneficiaries for years, the improvement in Form 706 processing times is one of the best developments I've seen from the IRS recently. What's interesting is that the improvement seems most pronounced for straightforward estates with complete documentation. I've noticed that returns filed with all required schedules, proper appraisals, and clear supporting documentation are moving through much faster than those requiring follow-up. One thing I've started doing is creating a comprehensive checklist for each 706 filing to ensure nothing gets missed on the initial submission. This includes verifying all asset valuations are properly supported, all required elections are clearly indicated, and all schedules are complete. It's extra work upfront, but it seems to be paying off with faster processing times. The key seems to be avoiding any reason for the IRS to set the return aside for additional review or missing information. Clean, complete submissions are definitely getting prioritized in the current processing environment.

This is such welcome news! As someone who's been dealing with estate administration for over a decade, the improvement in Form 706 processing times is honestly a game-changer for our practice and our clients. We've seen similar improvements - three estates filed in the last year all received closing letters within 16-19 months, compared to the 30+ month waits we were experiencing just two years ago. The relief on beneficiaries' faces when we can give them realistic timelines again is incredible. What I find particularly encouraging is that this seems to be a systematic improvement rather than just random luck. The IRS appears to have genuinely invested in better processing workflows and staffing for estate tax returns. I'm cautiously optimistic that this trend will continue, especially given the recent funding increases. One tip I'd share - we've started being even more meticulous about our initial submissions. Complete appraisals, all required schedules, and clear documentation seem to be moving through the system much faster. It's worth the extra time upfront to avoid any potential delays from missing information. Here's hoping this marks a permanent shift toward more reasonable processing times for estate tax returns!

This is incredibly encouraging news! I've been working in estate administration for about 5 years now, and the processing delays have been one of the most stressful aspects of the job. Having to constantly explain to grieving families why they can't access or distribute assets for 2+ years has been heartbreaking. The 18-month processing times you're seeing align with what we've experienced recently as well. We had two 706 returns come back within 15 and 17 months respectively, which was shocking after years of much longer waits. It's such a relief to be able to give clients more realistic expectations again. I'm particularly interested in your mention of the 706-NA processing in 11 months - that's remarkable! Non-resident estate returns used to be even slower than domestic ones in my experience. One thing I've been wondering about is whether this improvement extends to more complex estates with business valuations or significant charitable deductions. Have you seen faster processing across all types of estates, or mainly the more straightforward ones? I have a complex estate with a family business interest that we filed 8 months ago, and I'm cautiously hopeful it might move faster than the 30+ months we used to expect for these cases.

This is fantastic news to hear! As someone who recently started handling estate administration, the improved processing times give me so much more confidence in setting realistic expectations with clients. I've been using a combination of the tools mentioned here - both taxr.ai for ensuring complete submissions and Claimyr when I absolutely need to reach the IRS directly. The taxr.ai system has been invaluable for catching potential issues before filing, and I actually used Claimyr last month to get clarification on a complex valuation question that could have delayed processing for months. What really strikes me about this thread is how much the client experience has improved. Being able to tell families that their 706 will likely be processed in 14-20 months instead of 30+ months makes such a difference during an already difficult time. The beneficiary communication features in these newer tools have also been game-changers for managing expectations and reducing those anxious phone calls we all know too well. I'm cautiously optimistic that these improvements represent a real systemic change at the IRS rather than just a temporary backlog clearance. The combination of better IRS processing and these new professional tools is making estate administration much more manageable for both practitioners and families.