Getting Form 1041-ES for my father's estate that closed years ago - what should I do?

I've seen this happen a few times with estates. The IRS system sometimes doesn't properly "close" an estate in their records even after all the final tax returns are filed and accepted. What likely happened is that their automated system flagged the estate as still needing to make estimated tax payments, even though it's been closed for years. These Form 1041-ES vouchers are typically sent to estates that have ongoing income that requires quarterly estimated tax payments. You should definitely not ignore this. While it's almost certainly just a system error, ignoring IRS notices can lead to automated penalties or further complications. What you need to do is write a brief letter to the IRS explaining that the estate was settled in 2019, include a copy of the final estate tax return that was filed (Form 1041 marked as "Final"), and if you have it, any formal documentation showing the estate was closed. Mail this to the address shown on the 1041-ES forms.

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Former tax pro here. This is definitely a systems issue at the IRS. When an estate is closed, the IRS needs to be notified through a final Form 1041 with the "Final Return" box checked. Sometimes their systems don't properly register this, especially if there was any income reported after the "final" return was filed. For the original poster, I would recommend sending a letter to the IRS address on the Form 1041-ES explaining: 1. The date of death 2. When the final Form 1041 was filed (with a copy if you have it) 3. Confirmation the estate has been fully distributed and closed 4. Request that they update their records to show the estate is closed Keep copies of everything you send and use certified mail so you have proof of delivery.

Make sure you don't just throw these away! The IRS computers will think the estate still owes estimated payments and will start generating automated penalty notices if you ignore them. Happened to my neighbor and it took him almost a year to resolve the mess.

I went through this exact same situation with my mother's estate about two years ago. The IRS kept sending Form 1041-ES vouchers even though we had properly closed the estate in 2020. What worked for me was sending a certified letter to the IRS with copies of the final Form 1041 (clearly marked "Final Return"), the court order closing the estate, and a brief explanation that the estate had been fully distributed and closed. I included the estate's EIN and my contact information as executor. The key thing is to act quickly - don't let these sit around. The IRS automated system will start generating penalty notices if it thinks estimated payments are being missed. It took about 6-8 weeks after I sent the documentation, but I eventually received a letter confirming they had updated their records and would stop sending the vouchers. Keep copies of everything you send and use certified mail with return receipt so you have proof they received it. This is definitely fixable, just needs the right paperwork to get their system updated.