What actually happens if no one files a deceased person's tax return?

So if the family doesn't file, the IRS can only go after whatever assets he left behind? What if we don't know what those assets are? Like what if he had a bank account we don't know about?

The IRS will only be able to make claims against his estate, not against family members personally. If there are unknown bank accounts or assets, those would still be considered part of his estate. Banks and financial institutions are required to report abandoned accounts eventually, which might lead to the discovery of those assets. Regarding unknown assets, you might want to check with his mail for any financial statements or do a search for unclaimed property in his name through your state's unclaimed property division website. This could help identify accounts you weren't aware of.

Does it work for deceased tax filers specifically? I'm in a similar situation with my grandfather's final return and I'm totally lost.

How secure is uploading sensitive financial documents to some random website? Sounds kinda sketchy to me...

Yes, it absolutely works for deceased filers! That's exactly what I used it for. It has specific guidance for filing a final return and walks you through all the special considerations for deceased taxpayers. They use bank-level encryption for all uploads and don't store your documents after analysis. I was really paranoid about security too, but they explain their security measures on the site. I researched it pretty thoroughly before using it.

Wait, how does this actually work? Does it just call the IRS for you? Why would you pay for something like that?

Sounds like a complete scam to me. No way this actually works. The IRS phone system is deliberately designed to be impossible to navigate. I'll believe it when I see it.

It doesn't call for you - it holds your place in the phone queue. So instead of you waiting on hold for hours, their system waits in line, and when an agent picks up, you get a call connecting you directly to that agent. It saved me literally hours of hold time. I was skeptical too, but the IRS phone system is actually designed to handle calls in order - the problem is they get too many calls. This service just waits in line for you. When I used it, I got through in 20 minutes when I had previously spent 3+ hours trying on my own only to get disconnected.

Thanks for bringing that up! Do you know what the threshold is for having to file an estate tax return? My uncle didn't have much but I think he had a small life insurance policy.

For federal estate taxes, the exemption is very high - $12.92 million for 2023, and probably higher for 2024. So unless your uncle had assets exceeding that amount, you likely don't need to worry about federal estate taxes. State estate taxes have much lower thresholds in some states though, ranging from $1 million to $7 million depending on the state. Some states don't have estate taxes at all. A life insurance policy would count toward this total if your uncle owned the policy himself, but there might be exclusions depending on your state.

Yes, there definitely is! As a family member, you can file Form 1310 "Statement of Person Claiming Refund Due a Deceased Taxpayer" along with the final tax return if it wasn't filed yet. If it's been 3 years since the return was due, you're cutting it close though - the IRS generally only allows claims for refunds within 3 years of the original due date. You should file immediately if you want to try to claim it. You'll also need to establish who has the legal right to the refund (usually determined by state law or by who's administering the estate).

This is really helpful information, thank you! I hadn't thought about the self-employment tax angle. Do you know if there's a way to find out what 1099s were issued to him without having access to his mail? We're not sure if his mail is still being delivered to his apartment or if it's been forwarded somewhere else. Is there a way to request copies of tax documents from the IRS directly?

Yes, you can request copies of tax documents! You'll need to file Form 4506-T "Request for Transcript of Tax Return" to get transcripts of what was reported to the IRS. This will show you any 1099s, W-2s, or other income documents that were filed for your uncle's Social Security number. As someone handling a deceased person's affairs, you can request these transcripts, but you'll need to provide proof of death (death certificate) and establish that you have the authority to act on behalf of the estate. The IRS will mail the transcripts to you rather than email them for security reasons. You can also try contacting his former clients directly if you have any idea who he worked with - they're required to provide copies of 1099s to the taxpayer (or their representative) if requested.

Yes, you can request tax transcripts from the IRS that will show what forms were filed for your uncle. You'll need to use Form 4506-T and check the box for "Record of Account" transcript. This will show you what income documents (like 1099s) the IRS received for him. However, you'll need to prove you have the legal authority to request his tax information - usually this means being appointed as the executor/administrator of his estate through probate court, or being his surviving spouse. If no one has been formally appointed yet, you might need to go through your state's probate process first. For the mail situation, you can also try contacting the post office to see if you can arrange a mail forward to a family member's address, though you'll likely need some documentation proving the death and your relationship to him.

Yes, you can request copies of tax documents! The IRS has a few options for this. You can file Form 4506-T to request a "transcript" of tax information, which shows what documents were filed with the IRS (like 1099s). This is free and usually faster than getting actual copies. If you need the actual document copies, you'd use Form 4506, but there's a fee for that. As someone handling the deceased person's affairs, you'd need to include documentation showing you have the authority to request this information - like a death certificate and proof that you're the executor or administrator of the estate. You can also try contacting his former clients directly if you can identify any of them. They should have records of any 1099s they issued to him. Banks and financial institutions will also have records of any interest or other income they reported on his behalf.

Yes, you can request wage and income transcripts from the IRS that will show what 1099s and other tax documents were issued to your uncle. You'll need to file Form 4506-T and check the box for "Wage and Income Transcript." As someone handling his affairs, you'll need to provide proof of death (death certificate) and documentation showing you have the authority to act on behalf of his estate. The transcript will show all the income documents (1099s, W-2s, etc.) that were reported to the IRS for that tax year. This is actually a really good way to get a complete picture of his income sources, especially if you're missing some documents. The process can take a few weeks by mail, but it's much faster than trying to track down individual 1099s from various clients or employers. You might also want to contact the post office to see if you can set up mail forwarding from his old address to someone in the family who can handle his affairs - this could help catch any late-arriving tax documents too.

Yes, you can request copies of tax documents! You'll need to file Form 4506-T (Request for Transcript of Tax Return) or Form 4506 (Request for Copy of Tax Return) with the IRS. As a family member handling the deceased person's affairs, you can request these documents, but you'll need to provide proof of death (death certificate) and evidence that you have the authority to act on behalf of the estate. The transcript (Form 4506-T) will show what information returns (like 1099s) were filed with the IRS for your uncle, which can help you identify what income sources he had. This is usually faster and cheaper than requesting full copies of the actual documents. For his mail situation, you might want to contact the post office to see if you can set up mail forwarding or pick up any remaining mail at his old address - you'll likely need documentation showing your relationship and his death certificate. Many important tax documents might still be coming in even after his passing.

Yes, you can request tax transcripts and wage/income documents directly from the IRS! As someone handling a deceased person's affairs, you can file Form 4506-T to get transcripts of what tax documents were reported to the IRS in your uncle's name (like 1099s, W-2s, etc.). You'll need to provide proof that you're authorized to request this information - usually a copy of the death certificate and documentation showing you're handling the estate. You can also contact the post office about mail forwarding. Even if no formal forwarding was set up, they might be able to help redirect important tax documents. Some tax preparers also recommend putting in a temporary change of address to route the mail to whoever is handling the estate, at least through tax season. The IRS transcript will show you what income was reported by employers/clients, which gives you a good starting point for preparing the final return even without the physical 1099 forms.

Yes, you can request tax transcripts and information from the IRS even for a deceased person, but you'll need to establish that you have the legal authority to access their information. You can file Form 4506-T to request a "Wage and Income Transcript" which will show all the 1099s and W-2s that were reported to the IRS for your uncle. However, you'll need to include documentation proving you're authorized to act on behalf of the estate - this could be a court order naming you as executor, or if there's no formal probate, you might need other documentation depending on your state's laws. Some states allow family members to handle small estates without formal probate proceedings. Another option is to contact the post office about mail forwarding - if no one set up forwarding, his mail might still be going to his old address. The landlord or property manager might be holding it. Tax documents are usually mailed in January, so if this just happened last month, those documents might still be accessible.

Yes, you can request tax transcripts and wage information directly from the IRS using Form 4506-T. As someone handling the deceased person's affairs, you can request these documents, but you'll need to provide proof of your authority (like a death certificate and documentation showing you're the executor or administrator of the estate). The IRS transcript will show what forms were filed with them - like 1099s, W-2s, etc. This can help you identify income sources you might not have known about. You can also contact his former clients directly if you have any idea who he worked with, since they're required to send 1099-NEC forms for payments over $600. Another option is to contact the post office about mail forwarding for deceased persons - there's a specific process for redirecting a deceased person's mail to the estate administrator. This might help you catch any tax documents that are still coming in.

Yes, you can request wage and income transcripts from the IRS using Form 4506-T. This will show you all the 1099s and W-2s that were reported to the IRS for your uncle's Social Security number. You'll need to be able to prove you're authorized to request this information though - typically as the executor or administrator of the estate. If you're having trouble getting through to the IRS by phone to request these documents, that Claimyr service mentioned earlier in the thread might be helpful for getting connected to an agent who can walk you through the process. The transcript request can take several weeks to process by mail, but an IRS agent might be able to provide some of this information over the phone if you have the right authorization. You should also contact the post office about mail forwarding - they might be able to help redirect his mail to a family member's address temporarily while you sort through his affairs.

Yes, you can request tax transcripts from the IRS that will show what tax documents were reported for your uncle. You'll need to file Form 4506-T "Request for Transcript of Tax Return" as a qualified recipient (which includes family members handling estate matters). This will show you what 1099s, W-2s, and other income documents were filed with his SSN. You can also contact the companies or clients you know he worked with directly - they're required to provide copies of any 1099s they issued. For his mail situation, you might want to contact the postal service about forwarding his mail to whoever is handling his affairs, or check with his apartment complex about any mail they're holding. Another option is to check his bank statements if you can access them - payments from clients will usually show up there and give you leads on who to contact for 1099 information.

Yes, you can request wage and income transcripts from the IRS using Form 4506-T. This will show you all the 1099s, W-2s, and other income documents that were reported to the IRS for your uncle. You'll need to be the legal representative of his estate to make this request, but it's often accepted even without formal executor paperwork if you're handling his affairs. You can also try contacting the post office to see if there's a mail forwarding address set up, or ask the landlord/property manager if they're holding mail. Many people don't realize that important tax documents can arrive well into the following year - some 1099s don't get issued until late January or even February. Another option is to check with his bank if you know where he banked - they might have 1099-INT forms for interest income that you'd need to report.

Yes, you can request wage and income transcripts from the IRS using Form 4506-T. This will show you all the 1099s and other income documents that were reported to the IRS under his Social Security number. You'll need to establish that you have a valid reason for requesting this information - usually by showing you're handling his estate or are a surviving family member. You can also try contacting his previous clients directly if you have any idea who he worked for. Many businesses are required to mail 1099s by January 31st, so if you can get his mail forwarded to someone in the family, you might still receive them. Another option is to check with the post office about mail forwarding - even if no one set it up initially, you might be able to arrange for his mail to be forwarded to a family member who can handle his affairs. You'll likely need a death certificate and some proof of your relationship to him.

Yes, you can request tax transcripts from the IRS that show what tax documents were reported for your uncle. As someone handling his estate affairs, you can file Form 4506-T to get transcripts of his tax information. This will show you what 1099s, W-2s, and other income documents were filed with the IRS for him. You'll need to provide proof that you're authorized to request his tax information - this could be a court order naming you as executor, or if there's no formal probate, you might need an affidavit stating you're handling his affairs. The IRS has specific forms for this situation. Another option is to contact his former clients directly if you can identify them from his records, business cards, or computer files. They should be able to tell you if they issued him a 1099 and provide you with a copy.

Yes, you can request copies of tax documents from the IRS! You'll need to file Form 4506-T (Request for Transcript of Tax Return) to get transcripts that show what income was reported to the IRS for your uncle. This will include any 1099s, W-2s, and other third-party reporting documents. As someone handling his affairs, you'll need to include proof of death (death certificate) and evidence that you have authority to request his tax information - this could be court documents naming you as executor, or in some cases a signed statement from all potential heirs if there's no formal estate proceeding. The transcript won't give you the actual 1099 forms, but it will show you what income the IRS has on record for him, which is often enough to prepare the return. You can also contact the companies directly if you know who he worked with - they're usually willing to provide copies of 1099s to estate representatives with proper documentation.

You can request copies of tax documents using Form 4506-T (Request for Transcript of Tax Return) if you have the legal authority to act on behalf of the deceased person's estate. This would show you what income documents (like 1099s) the IRS has on file for your uncle. However, you'll need to establish that you have the legal right to request this information. The IRS typically requires either a court order appointing you as executor/administrator, or documentation showing you're the surviving spouse or next of kin handling the estate. For the mail issue, you might want to contact the post office to see if a forwarding address was set up, or check with the landlord of his apartment - sometimes they hold mail for a period after someone passes away. You could also try calling any companies you think he might have done work for to ask if they issued 1099s and where they sent them.

Yes, you can request wage and income transcripts from the IRS using Form 4506-T. This will show you what 1099s and other tax documents were reported to the IRS for your uncle. You'll need to establish that you have the legal authority to request his tax information though - usually by being the court-appointed executor or administrator of his estate, or by providing documentation that you're handling his affairs. If you can't get formal authority, you might also try contacting any businesses or clients you know he worked with directly. They should have records of payments made to him and can provide copies of the 1099s they issued. You could also check his bank statements (if you can access them) to see what deposits he received that might indicate consulting income.

Yes, you can request tax transcripts from the IRS that show what forms were filed for your uncle. As someone handling his estate affairs, you can use Form 4506-T to request a "wage and income transcript" which will show all the 1099s, W-2s, and other income documents that were reported to the IRS for that tax year. You'll need to provide proof that you're authorized to act on behalf of the estate (like a death certificate and documentation showing you're the estate representative). This transcript will give you a complete picture of his reported income, even if you can't access his physical mail. The transcript is free and usually available within 5-10 business days if you mail the request, or immediately online if you can verify his identity through the IRS website.

Yes, you can request copies of tax documents! You'll need to file Form 4506-T (Request for Transcript of Tax Return) to get transcripts that show what income was reported to the IRS. This will include 1099s and other forms that were filed under his SSN. As the person handling his affairs, you'll need to attach documentation showing you have the authority to request this information - this could be a death certificate plus documentation that you're the executor or administrator of the estate, or in some cases a court order if there's no formal estate administration. You can also contact the post office to see if mail forwarding was set up. If not, you might be able to arrange to have his mail held or forwarded to you if you can prove you're handling his affairs. Many financial institutions and employers send duplicate 1099s in January, so there's still time to catch those if you can get his mail redirected.

Yes, you can request copies of tax documents directly from the IRS! You'll need to file Form 4506-T (Request for Transcript of Tax Return) to get transcripts that show what income documents were filed for your uncle. This will include information from any 1099s, W-2s, or other tax documents that were reported to the IRS. You can also try contacting the post office about mail forwarding - if no forwarding address was set up, they might be returning his mail to senders or holding it for a certain period. Some important tax documents might still be accessible this way. Another option is to contact his known clients or business contacts directly if you have any way to identify them. They would have records of payments made and could provide copies of 1099s they issued.

Yes, you can request copies of tax documents from the IRS! You'll need to file Form 4506-T (Request for Transcript of Tax Return) to get wage and income transcripts that show what 1099s and other tax documents were filed for your uncle. This will give you a summary of all the income reporting documents the IRS received. You'll need to be able to prove you have the legal right to request this information - usually by being the executor of the estate or having letters of administration from the probate court. If no one has been formally appointed yet, you might need to go through your state's probate process first. Another option is to contact the post office about mail forwarding for deceased persons. They have specific procedures for handling mail for someone who has passed away, and a family member can usually request to have the mail forwarded to them with proper documentation like a death certificate.

Yes, you can request tax transcripts from the IRS that show what forms were filed for your uncle. You'll need to file Form 4506-T and provide proof that you're authorized to receive his tax information (like a copy of the death certificate and documentation showing you're handling his estate). This will show you what 1099s and other tax documents were reported to the IRS in his name. You can also try contacting the post office to see if they can help redirect his mail or if there's a forwarding address on file. Sometimes family members can work with the postal service to collect mail for deceased relatives, but you'll need to provide documentation. Another option is to check his bank statements or financial records if you have access to those - they might show payments from clients that would have triggered 1099 reporting requirements.

Yes, you can request tax transcripts and wage information directly from the IRS using Form 4506-T. As someone handling a deceased person's affairs, you'll need to provide documentation showing you have the legal authority to request this information (like letters testamentary if you're the executor, or other court documents). The IRS can provide transcripts showing what tax documents were filed under his Social Security number, including 1099s from employers or clients. This would give you a good picture of his income sources. You can also contact the postal service about forwarding his mail to whoever is handling his affairs - they usually require some documentation but it's definitely possible to redirect mail for a deceased person's estate. Another option is to check with his bank if you can gain access to his accounts - many banks will provide statements to family members with proper documentation, and those statements might show deposits that correspond to consulting income or other sources you weren't aware of.

Yes, you can request copies of tax documents from the IRS! You'll need to file Form 4506-T (Request for Transcript of Tax Return) as the person handling the deceased's affairs. This will give you transcripts showing what income documents (like 1099s) were reported to the IRS under his Social Security number. You can also contact the IRS directly using a service like the Claimyr one mentioned earlier in this thread - they can tell you what documents they have on file for him. Just be prepared to provide proof that you have the legal authority to request this information (like a death certificate and documentation that you're handling his estate). For the mail situation, you might want to contact the post office about setting up mail forwarding to someone in the family who can handle his affairs, or see if you can access his mailbox if the landlord is cooperative. Many tax documents are also available online now if he had accounts set up with various financial institutions.

Yes, you can request copies of tax documents! You'll need to file Form 4506-T "Request for Transcript of Tax Return" to get a tax return transcript that shows what income documents (like 1099s) were reported to the IRS for your uncle. There's also Form 4506 if you need actual copies of the returns themselves. As the person handling his affairs, you can request these, but you'll need to provide proof of death (death certificate) and establish your authority to act on behalf of the estate. The transcript will show you what third-party information returns (1099s, W-2s, etc.) the IRS has on file, which can help you figure out what income he had even if you don't have the physical documents. For mail forwarding, you might want to contact the postal service to see if a forwarding address was set up, or check with his landlord about any mail that's been accumulating. Banks and other financial institutions will also typically send final statements to the estate if they're notified of the death.

Yes, you can request copies of tax documents! You'll need to file Form 4506-T (Request for Transcript of Tax Return) with the IRS. As a family member handling the deceased person's affairs, you can request wage and income transcripts that will show all the 1099s and W-2s that were reported to the IRS for your uncle. You'll need to provide proof that you have the authority to request this information - this could be a court document naming you as executor, or in some cases a copy of the death certificate along with an affidavit stating no executor has been appointed and you're handling the affairs. The IRS has specific forms and requirements for this, but it's definitely doable. Also, you might want to contact the post office about mail forwarding. Even if it wasn't set up initially, they might be able to help redirect his mail to a family member's address temporarily while you sort things out. Many important tax documents get mailed in January/February, so acting quickly could help you catch any 1099s that are still coming.

Yes, you can request copies of tax documents! You'll need to file Form 4506-T (Request for Transcript of Tax Return) with the IRS to get transcripts of any 1099s or other information returns that were filed for your uncle. As a family member dealing with the estate, you should be able to request these. You'll need to provide proof that you have the authority to request his tax information - this could be a death certificate plus documentation showing you're handling his affairs, or letters of administration if someone has been appointed by the court. The IRS is pretty strict about who can access deceased persons' tax information, but legitimate family members dealing with estates can usually get what they need. Another option is to contact his former clients directly if you know who they were - they should be able to tell you if they issued any 1099s. For his mail situation, you might want to file a change of address form with the post office to redirect his mail to someone in the family who can handle his affairs.

Yes, you can request tax transcripts and wage/income documents directly from the IRS! As someone handling the deceased person's affairs, you can file Form 4506-T to get transcripts of past returns and Form 4506-T with the "wage and income transcript" box checked to see what 1099s and W-2s were issued to him. You'll need to include a death certificate and documentation showing you have the authority to act on behalf of the estate. If there's no formal executor, you might need to check your state's laws about who can handle these matters - sometimes it's the surviving spouse, adult children, or closest relative. The IRS usually takes a few weeks to process these requests, but it's the most reliable way to see exactly what income was reported to them under his SSN. This will give you a complete picture of what needs to be included on his final return.