Trusts & Estates
Trust and estate taxes, handled with care.
For executors settling a loved one’s estate, trustees managing a family trust, and families planning ahead with gifts. I prepare the returns, explain what’s due and when, and look for every legal way to lower what the estate, the trust, and its beneficiaries pay.
Book a Free Discovery CallWho This Is For
Maybe you’ve been named executor of a loved one’s estate, you’re trustee of a family trust that files every year, or you’re making large gifts to family. Either way, the filings come with real deadlines and real choices. You want them done right and on time, you want to understand the options that affect what you and your beneficiaries pay, and you want someone patient enough to walk you through it. That’s who this is for.
Where I can help
Estates
- The final individual return for your loved one
- Estate income tax returns (Form 1041) and beneficiary K-1s
- Estate elections: fiscal year, Section 645, and the 65-day rule
- Portability elections for a surviving spouse (Form 706)
- Cost basis records for inherited assets
- Sale of the home or other estate property
Trusts
- Trust income tax returns (Form 1041)
- Grantor trust reporting
- Distributions and beneficiary K-1s
- State fiduciary returns
Gifts
- Gift tax returns (Form 709)
- Gifts above the annual exclusion, and gift splitting between spouses
- Gifts to trusts and 529 plan superfunding
- Tracking your lifetime exemption over the years
Beneficiaries
- Reporting a K-1 from an estate or trust on your own return
- Selling inherited property
- Planning for what you’ve inherited
Recently named executor or trustee? Let’s talk through what’s due.
Book a Free Discovery CallReceived an inheritance or a K-1? I can help with your own return too.
See how I work with individualsProcess
How It Works
Talk it through.
A free discovery call about the estate or trust, what’s been filed so far, and what’s coming due.
Map out the filings.
I confirm which returns apply, when each is due, and which elections are worth considering, with an exact price up front.
Returns prepared and explained.
I prepare each return and walk you through it before you sign, in plain language.
Beneficiaries taken care of.
K-1s go out on time, so beneficiaries can file their own returns without delay.
Clear pricing, up front
You’ll know exactly what the filings cost before you commit, so there are no surprises for the estate.
Estate or trust income tax return
Starting at $1,500
- Fiduciary income tax return (Form 1041)
- Beneficiary K-1s
- One state fiduciary return
- Your results explained before you sign
- Electronic filing
Gift tax return
Starting at $400
- Gift tax return (Form 709) for a simple gift
- Your lifetime exemption, tracked year to year
- Your results explained before you sign
More gifts, gifts to trusts, or gifts of property or business interests increase the price. Planning a large gift? Talk to me before you give, because timing and what you give can change the tax picture.
Good to know
- The final individual return for your loved one is priced separately, starting at $700.
- More beneficiaries, more states, or the sale of estate property increase the price.
- Portability-only estate tax returns (Form 706) for a surviving spouse are quoted separately.
- Planning conversations about distributions or elections can be scoped and quoted separately.
Want an exact number for your situation?
Working alongside your attorney
Most estates involve an estate attorney, and often a financial advisor managing the accounts. When everyone works from the same information, the filings, distributions, and timing line up, and fewer things land on your desk.
With your permission, I coordinate directly with your attorney and advisors. If you don’t have them yet, I can introduce you to professionals I know and trust.
How I apply the law
Every position on a fiduciary return is grounded in the Internal Revenue Code, Treasury regulations, court decisions, and IRS guidance, and documented so I can explain it if it’s ever questioned. Where the law allows a benefit for the estate or its beneficiaries, I look for it. Where a position won’t hold up, I won’t take it.
Who I’m probably not the right fit for:
- You’re settling a complex estate, such as one with business interests, foreign assets, a contested distribution, many beneficiaries, or federal estate tax due. I focus on straightforward trusts and estates, and I’m happy to refer you to a firm that specializes in fiduciary returns.
- Cost is the estate’s main concern. Fiduciary returns take careful research and review, and my fees reflect that. I’m always happy to talk and point you in the right direction, and if my pricing isn’t the right fit, I can refer you to a firm that may better suit the estate’s needs.
FAQ
Common Questions
Are you accepting new clients?
Yes. Estate and trust work isn’t tied to tax season the same way personal returns are, so I can usually start when you need me. Reach out as soon as you’ve been named, and we’ll talk through what’s due.
I was just named executor or trustee. Where do I start?
Start with a free discovery call. We’ll talk through the estate or trust, what’s been filed so far, and what’s coming due. From there, I’ll map out the returns that apply and give you an exact quote before you commit.
What returns will I need to file?
Usually the final individual return for your loved one, and an estate or trust income tax return (Form 1041) once it earns $600 or more of gross income, with K-1s for the beneficiaries. There may be state fiduciary returns too. Only larger estates also need a federal estate tax return (Form 706), which is a separate return about the value of the estate rather than the income it earns. I’ll confirm exactly what applies to your situation.
Do you prepare estate tax returns (Form 706)?
It helps to know there are two different estate returns. The estate income tax return (Form 1041) reports the income an estate earns while it’s being settled, like interest, dividends, or rent, and I prepare those for most estates. The estate tax return (Form 706) reports the value of everything your loved one owned, and only estates above the federal exemption owe estate tax. I prepare Form 706 for a surviving spouse electing portability, which carries the unused part of the exemption over to you and is often worth filing even when no tax is due. For estates that owe federal estate tax, I’m happy to refer you to a firm that specializes in estate tax returns.
Will you work with the estate attorney?
Yes. Most estates involve an attorney, and the filings go more smoothly when we coordinate. With your permission, I’m glad to work directly with them, along with any financial advisor handling the estate’s accounts.
How much does it cost?
Estate and trust income tax returns (Form 1041) start at $1,500, including beneficiary K-1s and one state return, and gift tax returns start at $400. The final individual return starts at $700. More beneficiaries, states, or property sales increase the price, and you’ll get an exact quote before you commit.
How long does the process take?
It depends on the estate. Many straightforward estates need one or two fiduciary returns over a year or two, along with the final individual return. I’ll map out a timeline on our first call, so you know what to expect and when.
Can you help the beneficiaries too?
Yes. If you received a K-1 or sold inherited property, I can prepare your personal return as well. See how I work with individuals.
Let’s take one thing off your plate.
Book a free discovery call. We’ll talk through the estate or trust, what’s due, and what working together would look like.
Book a Free Discovery Call