Estates, Trusts & Specialized Tax Matters

What problem brings someone here?

We handle estate and trust (Form 1041) filings for clients who have passed away, and we have clients with grantor trusts that have ongoing trust tax return filing requirements.

When a person gifts assets valued above the annual gift tax exclusion, we prepare their gift tax return (Form 709). When a person dies and their assets are above the federal estate tax exemption ($15 million in 2026), an estate tax return (Form 706) must be filed.

How can we help?

When a person dies, we prepare their final Form 1040 for the period they were living. The estate’s income tax return is filed for income earned after death, except for assets placed in a trust; a trust return is filed for assets titled in the trust. We often file both a trust return and an estate return, because when a trust is set up it is common for people to forget to title some assets into it, which then requires two Forms 1041 to be filed. For high-wealth clients, we also file the estate tax return (Form 706).

We recommend having us review a person’s trust and assets to make sure all assets are properly titled in the trust. We also like clients to review who their beneficiaries are on a regular basis, to avoid unpleasant surprises such as finding that a beneficiary has died and the remaining beneficiaries end up in probate.

What should you expect?

To prepare the returns we need copies of all trust documents, the will, death certificates and the EIN if one has been applied for; otherwise we can apply for the EIN. We also need the annual tax filing forms (such as 1099s), a list of all other income and a list of qualified deductions. When the work is complete, the client receives the tax return.

We have handled simple trusts, complex trusts, grantor trusts, estates, gift tax returns and estate tax returns. Pricing is based on the level of complexity.

How do I get started?

1. Tell us what you need. Complete a short consultation request. Do not upload tax returns, Social Security numbers or other sensitive financial information through the website.
2. We review the request. Our team reviews the general nature of the work and determines the appropriate person and next step.
3. We talk. We will arrange a phone, video or office consultation when appropriate so we can better understand your situation.
4. Securely provide information. If we move forward, we will provide instructions for securely sharing the documents and information needed for the engagement.