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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Eric: I use a form 5495 request for release. And obtain a transcript if it appears that tax returns were not filed. I think the PR is responsible for taxes to the extent of funds distributed to beneficiaries. I once represented an estate where the deceased received a deficiency notice 9 years after he had failed to file.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'> Tom Stuen<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Eric Nelsen<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, December 11, 2014 3:25 PM<br><b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust listserve (wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com)<br><b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Administrator duty to search for indications of pre-death unfiled tax returns?<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>How far does a PR's duty go to determine if a decedent failed to file income tax returns? I have typically made sure that the decedent's final 1040 is done, but unless something obvious crops up in the review of decedent's papers, I don't do a huge search or explicitly query the IRS for records to ensure they've been filed in all prior years.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I ask because I am having second thoughts about IRS Form 56, Notice of Fiduciary Relationship. The instructions seem to require filing one for PR as fiduciary for the estate (that is, estate tax and post-death income), and one for PR as fiduciary for the decedent (that is, pre-death income). In Section B entitled "nature of liability and tax notices," it essentially asks the PR to say, "yeah, I'm liable for all income tax returns of the decedent." Seems a bit much to me.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Am I overthinking?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Eric<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>SAYRE LAW OFFICES, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>1320 University St<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Seattle WA 98101-2837<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>phone 206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>fax 206-625-9040<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>