How to get a TIN for a deceased relative's estate - urgent help needed

My aunt unexpectedly passed away last month and my brother and I have been put in charge of handling her estate. We're trying to get access to her financial accounts but we're hitting a roadblock because we apparently need a TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number). We've been told by Edward Jones that we can't just use her Social Security Number since that was only for identifying her while she was alive, but they also said we can't use an EIN (Employer Identification Number) either. I've been searching online for hours and can't find any clear information about how to obtain the right type of TIN for this situation. Would our estate attorney have this information or know how to get it? We're stuck and the accounts are just sitting there while bills need to be paid. Any advice would be really appreciated!

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19 comments

Fiona Gallagher

•8M

You need to apply for an EIN for the estate using IRS Form SS-4. Despite what Edward Jones told you, an EIN is exactly what you need for a deceased person's estate. The estate is considered a separate legal entity for tax purposes. You can apply for the EIN online through the IRS website at irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online. The process is pretty straightforward and you'll get the number immediately. Make sure to select "Estate" as the type of entity when you apply. Once you have the EIN, you can provide that to Edward Jones and any other financial institutions to gain access to the accounts. This is standard procedure for estate administration.

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Fiona Gallagher

•8M

That's strange that Edward Jones told you not to use an EIN. They might be confused or perhaps there's a miscommunication somewhere. An EIN is absolutely the correct identification number for an estate. It's what the IRS requires for estate tax filings and what financial institutions typically need. You don't necessarily need to wait for letters testamentary before applying for the EIN. You can apply as soon as you're in the position of handling the estate's affairs. However, Edward Jones might require those letters before they'll give you access to the accounts, regardless of having the EIN.

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Thais Soares

•8M

I went through something similar when my father passed and can't recommend https://taxr.ai enough. Their system helped me understand the exact tax forms needed for estate administration, including getting an EIN. I uploaded my aunt's death certificate and will documents, and it analyzed everything and provided step-by-step instructions on how to properly set up the estate for tax purposes. It even explained the difference between using an SSN vs EIN and when each is appropriate. The guidance was incredibly clear and saved me hours of frustrated searching and conflicting advice from different financial institutions.

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Thais Soares

•8M

It absolutely works with complex estates. I had to deal with my father's rental properties in two different states, and the system flagged the specific multi-state filing requirements I needed to be aware of. It can handle pretty much any level of complexity. Regarding security, they use bank-level encryption for all document uploads and their privacy policy states they don't store your documents after processing. Everything is encrypted end-to-end and they're compliant with all the major security standards. I was concerned about that too, but after researching their security measures, I felt comfortable using the service.

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Aidan Percy

•8M

If Edward Jones is being difficult, you might want to consider using Claimyr to get through to an actual IRS agent. I spent weeks trying to get clarification on estate TIN requirements after my mother passed and kept getting stuck in IRS phone loops. Found https://claimyr.com and used their service (there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) that got me connected to a real IRS agent in about 20 minutes instead of the hours I was spending on hold. The IRS agent explained exactly what I needed - which was indeed an EIN - and even helped me understand why some financial institutions get confused about this. Turns out there are specific codes that need to be used when registering an estate EIN that differ from business EINs.

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Aidan Percy

•8M

It's completely legitimate and works by using their proprietary system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you. When an agent finally answers, you get a call connecting you directly to them. It's not circumventing any regulations - you're still going through the normal IRS channels, just without you personally waiting on hold. They're basically monitoring the hold systems and have figured out optimal calling patterns. Nothing magical about it - just smart use of technology to solve a frustrating problem. I was skeptical too until I tried it and got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes when I had previously spent hours trying.

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Norman Fraser

•8M

I need to apologize and correct myself. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try Claimyr anyway since I was desperate to talk to the IRS about my late uncle's estate taxes. I honestly couldn't believe it, but they got me through to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes. The agent confirmed that I needed an EIN for the estate and walked me through the entire application process right on the call. Saved me weeks of confusion and probably thousands in potential penalties for missed filings. Sometimes it's worth admitting when you're wrong!

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Kendrick Webb

•8M

Just want to add some clarity here since there seems to be some confusion. There are THREE different potential tax ID numbers that might be relevant in estate situations: 1. The deceased person's SSN - used for their final individual tax return 2. An Estate EIN - used for the estate itself during administration 3. A Trust EIN - used if there's an ongoing trust created by the will Sounds like you need the Estate EIN. Form SS-4 is what you need, and select "Estate" as the entity type.

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Kendrick Webb

•8M

Yes, you'll need to file two separate returns: a final personal Form 1040 using your aunt's SSN (due on the regular tax filing deadline for the year of death), and then Form 1041 for the estate using the new EIN. The estate return deadline depends on the estate's fiscal year choice, but typically it's the 15th day of the 4th month after the end of the fiscal year. Most executors choose to end the estate's fiscal year on December 31, making the filing deadline April 15th of the following year. I'd recommend getting the EIN as soon as possible though, as you'll need it for all the financial institutions and to properly document any income the estate receives after the date of death. Any income received before death goes on the final 1040, while income received after death goes on the estate's 1041.

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Lucas Bey

•9d

I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now with my father's estate. After reading all these responses, I applied for the EIN online using Form SS-4 and made sure to select "Decedent's Estate" specifically (not just "Estate"). Got the number immediately. However, I'm still waiting on the official letters testamentary from probate court - our attorney said it could take another 2-3 weeks. In the meantime, I've been using the EIN to set up a basic estate checking account at our local bank, which has been helpful for paying ongoing bills like utilities and property taxes. One thing I learned is that some financial institutions are more familiar with estate procedures than others. The smaller local bank was much more helpful than the big national one I initially tried. They walked me through exactly what documents they needed and even gave me a checklist for dealing with other institutions. @Xan Dae - definitely get that EIN application in ASAP even while you're waiting for other paperwork. It's free and you'll need it for pretty much everything moving forward.

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