What are the tax filing deadline dates for a trust? Can they choose their deadline like corporations?

Trusts and corporations have different tax filing rules. For most trusts, tax returns (Form 1041) are due by April 15th for calendar year trusts, just like individual taxpayers. However, there are some important nuances: A trust can indeed choose a fiscal year rather than a calendar year, but only when it's first created and only in certain circumstances. Once established, changing a trust's tax year typically requires IRS approval. Most trusts are required to use a calendar year for tax purposes unless they meet specific exceptions. If your mother is setting up a simple revocable living trust, it will likely be what's called a "grantor trust" during her lifetime, which means it doesn't even file its own tax return - all income flows through to her personal return. After her passing, if it becomes irrevocable, then it would need to file Form 1041.

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Wow, I finally tried taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here and I'm genuinely impressed! My grandparents' bypass trust had a clause about "fiscal year selection" that I completely missed. The system flagged it immediately and explained that our trust actually does have the option to use a fiscal year ending June 30th, which gives us until October 15th to file (with extension). The analysis even pointed out specific sections in the trust document that our previous accountant had overlooked. I showed the results to our new CPA and she confirmed everything was correct. Saved me from potentially filing at the wrong time!

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One thing nobody's mentioned yet - if the trust has beneficiaries who need to receive K-1 forms, that's another reason why many trusts stick with a calendar year. It makes it MUCH easier for beneficiaries who are filing their personal tax returns if the trust uses the same tax year. Otherwise, beneficiaries might not get their K-1s until after their personal tax deadlines!

Make sure you're clear on what TYPE of trust you're dealing with. I learned the hard way that different trust types have different rules: - Revocable living trust (while grantor is alive): Usually no separate tax filing - Simple trust: April 15th deadline (calendar year) - Complex trust: April 15th for calendar year trusts, or the 15th day of the 4th month after fiscal year end - Grantor trusts: Income reported on grantor's personal return - Charitable remainder trusts: May 15th deadline!

Based on what you've described about your uncle's trust, it sounds like it could be either a simple trust or complex trust depending on the specific terms. If the trust is required to distribute all income annually to your aunt and doesn't make charitable distributions or accumulate income, it would typically be classified as a "simple trust" and file Form 1041 by April 15th. However, if the trust has discretion over distributions, can accumulate income, or makes distributions from principal, it would be a "complex trust" - but still with the same April 15th deadline for calendar year trusts. The key factor for your situation is that this type of testamentary trust (created upon death) almost always uses a calendar year for tax purposes, so you'd be looking at the April 15th filing deadline. Your aunt would receive a Schedule K-1 showing her share of the trust income to report on her personal tax return. I'd strongly recommend having the trustee consult with a tax professional familiar with trust taxation, especially in the first year after your uncle's passing, as there can be additional complexities with the initial tax filings.