How does a Personal Representative sign a Decedent's Federal 1040 tax return?

As a tax preparer who handles estates frequently, I can clarify this for you. When signing a 1040 for a deceased taxpayer as their Personal Representative, you'll sign YOUR OWN name (not the decedent's) on the signature line. Then write "Personal Representative" after your signature to indicate your capacity. There should also be a place near the signature line where you can check a box indicating you're signing as the deceased person's representative. Make sure to attach a copy of the will naming you as Personal Representative if you haven't been court-appointed yet. Also important - write "DECEASED" across the top of the 1040 along with the decedent's name and date of death. This helps the IRS properly process the return.

I went through this exact headache last year after my mom passed away. The IRS website was so confusing, but I found this amazing tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that literally saved me hours of frustration. I uploaded a scan of my mom's will and it analyzed the document and gave me step-by-step instructions for how to properly file as a Personal Representative without court appointment. It specifically showed me where to sign, what to write, and even generated a cover letter explaining my filing status to include with the return. The site has this document analyzer that understands complex tax situations related to estates and trusts.

Just wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai after my skeptical comment. I decided to try it since I was getting nowhere with my brother-in-law's tax situation. It was actually really helpful! The document analysis feature caught that we needed to include Form 1310 with the return because there was a refund over $5,000, which none of the generic tax advice sites mentioned for our specific situation. The system generated a customized cover letter explaining the Personal Representative status based on the will (without court appointment) and highlighted the relevant sections. We resubmitted with these corrections and the IRS accepted it! Definitely worth checking out if you're dealing with a deceased taxpayer's return.

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I have to eat my words about Claimyr. After being totally skeptical, I actually tried it yesterday out of desperation. I'd been trying to reach the IRS for two weeks about my father-in-law's return that had processing issues. The service worked exactly as advertised. I entered my phone number, and about 2 hours later, I got a call connecting me directly to an IRS agent! I didn't have to waste hours on hold. The agent helped me confirm they had received the additional documentation we sent and explained that the return was now being processed normally. The agent even gave me a specific timeframe for when we should expect the refund, which was something we couldn't get from the automated system. Definitely worth it after all the frustration of trying to call them directly.

Just want to add something that nobody mentioned yet - make sure you're also filing the final state tax return properly if your state has income tax. Each state has slightly different requirements for Personal Representatives. In my state (Ohio), I had to include an extra form certifying my status as PR even though I was named in the will but not court-appointed.

Has anyone had experience with e-filing a deceased taxpayer's return as a Personal Representative? I'm trying to avoid paper filing if possible, but I'm not sure if the major tax software programs properly handle this situation.

I'm currently going through this same situation with my father's estate. One thing I want to emphasize that hasn't been fully covered - keep detailed records of EVERYTHING you do as Personal Representative. The IRS may request documentation later, and having organized files will save you major headaches. Also, consider getting an EIN (Employer Identification Number) for the estate if there are any ongoing income-generating assets or if you expect the estate to remain open for an extended period. This separates estate income from the final 1040 and helps with record-keeping. For the signature issue specifically, I found it helpful to practice writing "John Doe, Personal Representative for [Deceased's Name], Estate" a few times before signing the actual return. The IRS wants clarity about who is signing and in what capacity.