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Friday, September 23, 2011

IRS Offers Filing & Penalty Relief for 2010 Estates; Basis Form Now Due Jan. 17, 20; Extension to March Available For Estate Tax Returns


Since we help our clients prepare and file estate tax returns, it is important to note that the IRS announced on September 13, 2011 that the due dates for filing Forms 8939 and 706, as well as paying the estate tax for those estates that do not elect out of the estate tax, will be extended.


The IRS announced that large estates of people who died in 2010 will have until early next year to file various required returns and pay any estate taxes due. In addition, the IRS is providing penalty relief to certain beneficiaries of these estates on their 2010 federal income tax returns.


This relief is designed to give large estates, normally those over $5 million, more time to comply with key tax law changes enacted late last year.

  • The IRS is providing the following relief:
  • 1) Large estates, opting out of the estate tax, now will have until Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, to file Form 8939. This special carryover basis form, required of estates making this choice, was previously due on Nov. 15, 2011. Because this is a change in the specified due date rather than an extension, no statement or form needs to be filed with the IRS to have this new due date apply.
  • 2) 2010 estates that request an extension on Form 4768 will have until March 2012 to file their estate tax returns and pay any estate tax due. Normally, a six-month filing extension is automatically granted to estates filing this form, but extensions of time to pay are granted only for good cause. As a result, most 2010 estates that timely file Form 4768 will have until Monday, March 19, 2012 to file Forms 706 or 706-NA. For estates of those dying late in 2010 (after Dec. 16, 2010 and before Jan. 1, 2011), the due date is 15 months after the date of death. No late-filing or late-payment penalties will be due, though interest still will be charged on any estate tax paid after the original due date.
  • 3) Special penalty relief is provided to many individuals, estates and trusts that already filed a 2010 federal income tax return, or obtained an extension and plan to file by the Oct. 17, 2011 extended due date. Late-payment and negligence penalty relief applies to persons inheriting property from a decedent dying in 2010, who then sells the property in 2010 but improperly reports gain or loss because they did not know whether the estate made the carryover basis election. Details are in Notice 2011-76 posted on the IRS website.
  • Posted by Henry (Hank) J. Moravec, III, a partner at Moravec, Varga & Mooney, A Partnership. For a free 30 minute consultation (telephonic or in person), you can e-mail Hank Moravec at hm@moravecslaw.com or call him at (626) 793-3210 or (818) 769-4221.

    With respect to tax and estate law issues, Hank Moravec has over 20 years' experience as one of the best Los Angeles estate and trust tax attorneys and Los Angeles probate litigation attorneys and is available should you need legal advice regarding your own or a family member's situation. For a consultation, You can e-mail Hank Moravec at hm@moravecslaw.com or call him to request a consultation.

    The firm website is http://www.moravecslaw.com/. The firm has two offices and consultations and meetings can be held at either office. We can also arrange to have consultations at your home or office.

    The San Gabriel Valley office is located at 2233 Huntington Drive, Suite 17, San Marino, California 91108. There is ample free parking adjacent to the firm's office. Call (626) 793-3210.

    The San Fernando Valley office is located at 4605 Lankershim Boulevard, Suite 718, North Hollywood, California 91602-1878. Call
    (818) 769-4221.