When you lose a loved one, the last thing in the world you want to think about is the tax consequences – but there are indeed tax consequences, and important ones at that. A final tax return must be filed for the deceased; this is usually done by a spouse, personal representative, or other person responsible for the decedent’s property. You may be required to file an estate tax return if the estate is worth more than five million dollars; if the Unified Credit was claimed in prior years; or if there is a non-resident alien beneficiary. There are other tax planning reasons to file an estate return even if it is not required. The executor may also be required to file annual income returns on estate income while the estate is open. As you can see, estate taxation is a complicated matter; enrolled agents are trained to deal with these complexities. Let Tucson Tax Team help you navigate through this difficult process.