IRS Issues COVID-19 FAQ's for Estate and Gift Tax Returns

The Internal Revenue Service has issued helpful guidance for COVID-19 relief relating to estate and gift tax returns. It covers important topics beyond filing deadlines, such as DSUEA election for surviving spouses and qualified disclaimers.

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/covid-19-relief-for-estate-and-gift

RPPTL Section Service

I've been so grateful to the members of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar.  They are dedicated professionals and it is humbling to see their professionalism at work.  About 10 years ago, when my oldest sons moved on from Pop Warner Football and my coaching days ended, I started attending RPPTL Section meetings. Not only did they welcome me, educate me, and inspire me, they put me to work!  Other section members, especially the section leaders, put in far more time than I do, but I get far more than I give by participating. 

I learned today that they'll keep me working for the 2020-2021 bar year in the following roles:

• Homestead Issues Committee Chair
• Wills, Trusts and Estates Certification Review Course Committee Chair
• Probate Law and Procedure Committee Co-Vice Chair
• Florida Bar Journal Committee Co-Chair
• Executive Council member

      Jeffrey S. Goethe

IRS Issues Guidance for Stimulus Checks to Deceased Taxpayers - "Return the Payment"

The Internal Revenue Service has published new guidance for stimulus checks or direct deposits for deceased taxpayers. The short answers are: 

1. No, you can't keep a stimulus check for a taxpayer who died before receiving the check;
2. If you received a paper check, return the payment; 
3. If you spent it, pay it back; and 
4. If it was a direct deposit, send us a check. For surviving spouses who filed jointly, only the deceased spouse's portion needs to be sent back. 

The FAQ's on the IRS web site Economic Payment Information Center, initially suggests that payments received before the date of death can be kept. As updated on May 6, 2020, the FAQ's now answer questions about payments to deceased taxpayers. Here's what you can find on the IRS Web Site: 

Q10. Does someone who has died qualify for the Payment? (added May 6, 2020) A10. No. A Payment made to someone who died before receipt of the Payment should be returned to the IRS by following the instructions in the Q&A about repayments. Return the entire Payment unless the Payment was made to joint filers and one spouse had not died before receipt of the Payment, in which case, you only need to return the portion of the Payment made on account of the decedent. This amount will be $1,200 unless adjusted gross income exceeded $150,000.  Q41. What should I do to return an Economic Impact Payment? (added May 6, 2020) A41. You should return the payment as described below.

If the payment was a paper check:1.      Write "Void" in the endorsement section on the back of the check.

2.      Mail the voided Treasury check immediately to the appropriate IRS location listed below.

3.      Don't staple, bend, or paper clip the check.

4.      Include a note stating the reason for returning the check. 

If the payment was a paper check and you have cashed it, or if the payment was a direct deposit:

1.      Submit a personal check, money order, etc., immediately to the appropriate IRS location listed below.

2.      Write on the check/money order made payable to “U.S. Treasury” and write 2020EIP, and the taxpayer identification number (social security number,  or individual taxpayer identification number) of the recipient of the check.

3.      Include a brief explanation of the reason for returning the EIP.

For your paper check, here are the IRS mailing addresses to use based on the state: 

If you live in…	then mail to this address
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont	Andover Refund Inquiry Unit 310 Lowell St Mail Stop 666A Andover, MA 01810
Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Virginia	Atlanta Refund Inquiry Unit 4800 Buford Hwy Mail Stop 112 Chamblee, GA 30341
Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas	Austin Refund Inquiry Unit 3651 S Interregional Hwy 35 Mail Stop 6542 Austin, TX 78741
New York	Brookhaven Refund Inquiry Unit 5000 Corporate Ct. Mail Stop 547 Holtsville, NY 11742
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming	Fresno Refund Inquiry Unit 5045 E Butler Avenue Mail Stop B2007 Fresno, CA 93888
Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, West Virginia	Kansas City Refund Inquiry Unit 333 W Pershing Rd Mail Stop 6800, N-2 Kansas City, MO 64108
Alabama, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee	Memphis Refund Inquiry Unit 5333 Getwell Rd Mail Stop 8422 Memphis, TN 38118
District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island	Philadelphia Refund Inquiry Unit 2970 Market St DP 3-L08-151 Philadelphia, PA 19104
A foreign country, U.S. possession or territory*, or use an APO or FPO address, or file Form 2555 or 4563, or are a dual-status alien.	Austin Refund Inquiry Unit 3651 S Interregional Hwy 35 Mail Stop 6542 AUSC Austin, TX 78741

The web site also answers questions about eligibility.  For example, incarcerated taxpayers are not eligible for the payment. Congress and the IRS first acted quickly to get money in the hands of taxpayers. As expected, they're now working to get money back from those not entitled to keep it.   

IRS Issues Proposed Regulations for Miscellaneous Deductions for Trusts and Estates

Attorneys who handle trusts and estates, but don't file tax returns for trusts and estates, should consider how the estate or trust income tax return (Form 1041) will affect the beneficiaries.  While tax consequences aren't the only consideration in administering a trust or estate, they certainly are on the list. A geat tool for trustees, personal representatives, and their attorneys is IRS Publication 559, which provides an overview for the taxation of trusts and estates.  While the current estate tax exemption of $11.58 million means few estates will owe estate tax, many estates and trusts still have income that must be reported on Form 1041.

Administration expenses are deductible against the estate or trust's income. The timing of the payment of those expenses is one item that affects the bottom line for the trust or an estate. It also has an impact on beneficiaries who itemize deductions on their personal return.  Under current law, an individual has a standard deduction of $12,000, while married couples have a deduction of $24,000.  This simplifies the tax return for many taxpayers, because they don't have enough itemized deductions to exceed the generous standard deduction. For those who do itemize, the use of the estate's unused deductions in its final year could help those taxpayers who itemize. It all depends upon the number of beneficiaries and the total itemized deductions that each beneficiary could claim if they received a share of the estate or trust's unused itemized deductions.

On December 22, 2017, Congress passed “An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018,” P.L. 115-97 (Act).  The new law added Section 67(g) to the Internal Revenue Code.  This new subsection eliminated miscellaneous itemized deductions.  There was confusion about whether this eliminated the ability of trusts and estates to pass unused deductions on to the beneficiaries for use on their personal returns.
In IRS Notice 2018-61, the Internal Revenue Service addressed this confusion.  Link to IRS Notice 2018-61.   The IRS Notice explained:

The Treasury Department and the IRS intend to issue regulations clarifying that estates and non-grantor trusts may continue to deduct expenses described in section 67(e)(1) and amounts allowable as deductions under section 642(b), 651 or 661, including the appropriate portion of a bundled fee, in determining the estate or nongrantor trust’s adjusted gross income during taxable years, for which the application of section 67(a) is suspended pursuant to section 67(g). Additionally, the regulations will clarify that deductions enumerated in section 67(b) and (e) continue to remain outside the definition of “miscellaneous itemized deductions” and thus are unaffected by section 67(g).

Section 67(e)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code says:

(e)Determination of adjusted gross income in case of estates and trusts. For purposes of this section, the adjusted gross income of an estate or trust shall be computed in the same manner as in the case of an individual, except that—

(1)

the deductions for costs which are paid or incurred in connection with the administration of the estate or trust and which would not have been incurred if the property were not held in such trust or estate, and

(2)

the deductions allowable under sections 642(b), 651, and 661, 

shall be treated as allowable in arriving at adjusted gross income. Under regulations, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the application of part I of subchapter J of this chapter to take into account the provisions of this section.

In IRS Newswire 2020-90, The Internal Revenue Service announced that it has now issued proposed regulations.  The release offered the following summary, including a link to the proposed regulations.

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued proposed regulations that provide guidance for estates and trusts clarifying that certain deductions of estates and non-grantor trusts are not miscellaneous itemized deductions. 

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) prohibits individual taxpayers from claiming miscellaneous itemized deductions for any taxable year beginning after Dec. 31, 2017, and before Jan. 1, 2026.
Specifically, the proposed regulations clarify the following deductions are allowable in figuring adjusted gross income and are not miscellaneous itemized deductions:

• Costs paid or incurred in connection with the administration of the estate or      trust which would not have been incurred otherwise.
• Deductions concerning the personal exemption of an estate or non-grantor trust.
• Deductions for trusts distributing current income.
• Deductions for trusts accumulating income

Finally, the guidance clarifies how to determine the character, amount and manner for allocating excess deductions that beneficiaries succeeding to the property of a terminated estate or non-grantor trust may claim on their individual income tax returns.
For more information about this and other TCJA provisions, visit IRS.gov/taxreform.

After the initial confusion in 2018, the proposed regulations are a welcome indication of the Internal Revenue Service's position on these issues.