Tax Forms for Deceased Parent

[caninelover]

Hi all. I know many of you have had to deal with estate issues when a parent passed. My Dad passed away last year (June 30) and my Mom as surviving spouse was his beneficiary. A will was in place and all accounts had proper beneficiary designations so the transfer of assets was wrapped up quickly and all assets are now in Mom's name/SS number.

I am preparing their tax return for last year (married filing jointly with Mom as surviving spouse).

My question is on expected tax forms. We have all forms (1099's) from after we transferred accounts, SS, and pension into Mom's name. We are nearing the end of February and we haven't received a single tax form from SS, pension or 1099's from the first half of last year (which would have been joint accounts but reported under Dad's SS #).

Do these forms just show up late? I'm surprised we haven't received any yet (like the SS 1099 or the pension income forms). The mailing address has not changed as Mom still lives at their home. I can't get them online as Dad's accounts were closed after he passed with new accounts created for Mom.

I did download statements from just after Dad passed, and I have their last year tax return so I have enough to prepare an estimate if we need to file an extension. My sister is technically executor so I tasked her with starting to chase down tax forms.

Should I be worried that we haven't received any forms yet?

 

[Oilcan]

We had a problem with SS. Tried to go online but was unsuccessful because of our lack of tech skills. Ended up calling SS and within a few minutes we were on the list to have our SS-1099's mailed to us. Had both of them in 2 weeks For the pension 1099's I would call the company and ask them to re-issue and send again.

Good luck!

 

[extradite3494]

I'm in a similar situation (mom passed away last spring). Her retirement accounts were transferred to my dad's name (403b), and we got those 1099R / 1099-R forms early February.

However, we still haven't received my mom's SSA-1099 (social security 1099R). (afaik, you can't login to a deceased person's SSA account to download the 1099R).

Perhaps you may have to schedule an appointment with your local social security office to get your dad's SSA-1099.

 

[caninelover]

I'm in a similar situation (mom passed away last March). Her retirement accounts were transferred to my dad's name (403b), and we got those 1099R / 1099-R forms early February.

However, we still haven't received my mom's SSA-1099 (social security 1099R). (afaik, you can't login to a deceased person's SSA account to download the 1099R).

Perhaps you may have to schedule an appointment with your local social security office to get your dad's SSA-1099.

Yeah I may ask my sister to do that (I don't live in the same state as they do). Frustrating that they simply don't just mail them? And yes we can't get them online as the accounts are closed when they are reported as deceased...

 

[TripleLindy]

Best of luck to you. I had a horrible experience with the Social Security office when trying to file for my stepfather. I had POA for both my mom and stepdad and my mom had passed. I can’t remember what I needed, but there was something I needed to file for my stepdad and the SS office wouldn’t give it to me. They told me that POA was useless for tax situations and that my stepfather, who was in memory care, would have to request the information in person. That wasn’t even remotely possible. I just didn’t file for him. It’s not like there was a ton of money at stake, but it was quite an unpleasant experience.

 

[caninelover]

Best of luck to you. I had a horrible experience with the Social Security office when trying to file for my stepfather. I had POA for both my mom and stepdad and my mom had passed. I can’t remember what I needed, but there was something I needed to file for my stepdad and the SS office wouldn’t give it to me. They told me that POA was useless for tax situations and that my stepfather, who was in memory care, would have to request the information in person. That wasn’t even remotely possible. I just didn’t file for him. It’s not like there was a ton of money at stake, but it was quite an unpleasant experience.

Sounds awful. Hopefully this is more straightforward as we have Dad's death certificate and the executrix letter from the court confirming my sister as the executor.

I'm wondering now that maybe Dad had set up his accounts to receive documents online only. I would assume after death they would physically mail them but maybe that setting doesn't change?

Its just odd that we've gotten literally nothing...

 

[extradite3494]

We had a problem with SS. Tried to go online but was unsuccessful because of our lack of tech skills. Ended up calling SS and within a few minutes we were on the list to have our SS-1099's mailed to us. Had both of them in 2 weeks For the pension 1099's I would call the company and ask them to re-issue and send again.

Good luck!

Did the Social security office require any documents (or a local office visit) to get the SSA-1099 form mailed to you?

 

[Dalton]

I never got my dad's, but I requested the information (I'm pretty sure I called the local office, and they told me to send a letter with all my info and dad's info, SS# date of death, etc, and requesting his 1099 information), then I received a letter from them with all the 1099 info in the body of the letter. I don't think it took too long for them to get back with me.

I screwed the whole thing up because I got an extension, and then procrastinated until too late, so had to wait on the IRS letter. And, I never got his 1099 for his pension, and because we didn't have to probate his estate, I didn't have a judges order and his pension didn't want to deal with me...they had seemed glad when I initially called to let them to know he had passed. So, I had to get creative to do his tax return. I had his previous year's return and 1099, and his checkbook, so I knew how his January check was broken down (it was the same as the previous 11 months), I knew how much his Feb-Sept checks were (but not how much was withheld since I didn't know how much COLA), and did some back calculating to figure out the withholding, and what his income total was for the year. I ended up attaching a letter with the return, that said what happened and gave my calculations and a monthly spreadsheet, and concluded that I figured I had to be within $2.00 on my determination as to how much his total income was, and how much had been withheld. I guess that worked, because the only thing I hear back was the paper refund check I got in the mail a couple months later.

 

[SecondCor521]

For SS, I am my Dad's representative payee, which is SS's particular version of POA. I'm hoping it will help me get the needed info when I have to do his final tax return.

I do also save off the several annual notices from SS that come in December and January with the calculations about the benefit amount, Medicare deductions, etc.

 

[Telly]

I lost my wonderful DW during 2025. Years earlier, I listed DW as my Representative Payee. It was always assumed that I would die before her. I don't think that she set up her Representative Payee.
We were both set up as paperless.
Approximately mid? January, I printed off my 1099 from my SS online account.
About a week later, the SSA mailed DW's 1099, addressed to her, to our house. I didn't do anything to get it, I just assumed they would send one, and they did.
I'm not sure that being listed as Representative Payee gives one any power or standing after the subject person dies.

Just a general FYI, it was about 2 weeks after DW's death that SSA put a hold on her online SS account, I could still log into it, but it went to a notice that stated something like "We have received information that has an effect on this account, and is in review".

The funeral home contacts the SSA through their portal for recording deaths. I checked her account a few times wondering when something would change. I didn't want them to credit her next payment into our checking account, where I'd have to reverse it back. If the status didn't change within another week, I was going to call SS and wait through the phone queue to tell them. I had the Death Certificate by then. But the SSA took care of it, it just took some time. Maybe they were waiting on the DC after being notified via the portal

 

[pb4uski]

Hi all. I know many of you have had to deal with estate issues when a parent passed. My Dad passed away last year (June 30) and my Mom as surviving spouse was his beneficiary. A will was in place and all accounts had proper beneficiary designations so the transfer of assets was wrapped up quickly and all assets are now in Mom's name/SS number.

I am preparing their tax return for last year (married filing jointly with Mom as surviving spouse).

My question is on expected tax forms. We have all forms (1099's) from after we transferred accounts, SS, and pension into Mom's name. We are nearing the end of February and we haven't received a single tax form from SS, pension or 1099's from the first half of last year (which would have been joint accounts but reported under Dad's SS #).

Do these forms just show up late? I'm surprised we haven't received any yet (like the SS 1099 or the pension income forms). The mailing address has not changed as Mom still lives at their home. I can't get them online as Dad's accounts were closed after he passed with new accounts created for Mom.

I did download statements from just after Dad passed, and I have their last year tax return so I have enough to prepare an estimate if we need to file an extension. My sister is technically executor so I tasked her with starting to chase down tax forms.

Should I be worried that we haven't received any forms yet?

My dad died in 2005 and I don't remember having any such difficulties with his return with my mom for that year. Since it was a joint account, your mom should be able to get 1099s from the brokerage firm. For the SS and pension income, perhaps you can do estimates from last year's 1099s and deposits in 2025.

 

[Steelpony]

Have an

Hi all. I know many of you have had to deal with estate issues when a parent passed. My Dad passed away last year (June 30) and my Mom as surviving spouse was his beneficiary. A will was in place and all accounts had proper beneficiary designations so the transfer of assets was wrapped up quickly and all assets are now in Mom's name/SS number.

I am preparing their tax return for last year (married filing jointly with Mom as surviving spouse).

My question is on expected tax forms. We have all forms (1099's) from after we transferred accounts, SS, and pension into Mom's name. We are nearing the end of February and we haven't received a single tax form from SS, pension or 1099's from the first half of last year (which would have been joint accounts but reported under Dad's SS #).

Do these forms just show up late? I'm surprised we haven't received any yet (like the SS 1099 or the pension income forms). The mailing address has not changed as Mom still lives at their home. I can't get them online as Dad's accounts were closed after he passed with new accounts created for Mom.

I did download statements from just after Dad passed, and I have their last year tax return so I have enough to prepare an estimate if we need to file an extension. My sister is technically executor so I tasked her with starting to chase down tax forms.

Should I be worried that we haven't received any forms yet?

Have an accountant do the taxes this year. They can figure it out plus file extensions if needed. This situation is out of most amateurs scope.

 

[caninelover]

Have an


Have an accountant do the taxes this year. They can figure it out plus file extensions if needed. This situation is out of most amateurs scope.

I don't think it's out of scope as their income is normal sources (SS, pension, interest, dividends and RMD from IRA account).

Even an accountant can't find anything without the required income/withholding forms from the banks, and they can't contact them on your behalf.

 

[caninelover]

My dad died in 2005 and I don't remember having any such difficulties with his return with my mom for that year. Since it was a joint account, your mom should be able to get 1099s from the brokerage firm. For the SS and pension income, perhaps you can do estimates from last year's 1099s and deposits in 2025.

For the joint accounts the income was reported under Dad's SS number until his death. When we transferred asset to only Mom, they set up new accounts under her SS #. We have the documents for Mom's new accounts but not for what was reported in the first half of the year under Dad's SS #.

 

[pb4uski]

My point was that since it was a joint account then she should be entitled to receive documents on the joint account even if interest was reported to the IRS under his SSN vs an account just in his name reported under his SSN

 

[caninelover]

My point was that since it was a joint account then she should be entitled to receive documents on the joint account even if interest was reported to the IRS under his SSN vs an account just in his name reported under his SSN

Agree which is why we are perplexed that she hasn't.

One bank, Barclays (Savings plus CDs) did produce a 1099 for the full year in Mom's name. Fidelity (investments) said they will provide the 1099 inline Dad online March 11.

Nothing from SS or Pension.

A Vanguard account we closed and consolidated to Fidelity hasn't sent anything either.

Another bank (Synchrony) produced a 1099 online for Mom's new accounts but haven't seen anything for Dad's for the first half of the year.

Very strange.

 

[Steelpony]

I don't think it's out of scope as their income is normal sources (SS, pension, interest, dividends and RMD from IRA account).

Even an accountant can't find anything without the required income/withholding forms from the banks, and they can't contact them on your behalf.

You know how to file for an extension then? A form 1310.? Manual professing? Ready for a wait up to 400+ days? Main reasons for delays? Security reviews? Final audits?

Good luck with that.

 

[cathy63]

You know how to file for an extension then? A form 1310.? Manual professing? Ready for a wait up to 400+ days? Main reasons for delays? Security reviews? Final audits?

Good luck with that.

None of that really applies in cases like this when the spouse is still living. She can file MFJ for 2025. Form 1310 is not needed for a surviving spouse filing a joint return with the deceased spouse, and there's no reason why this type of return would be any more likely to go through extra security or audits or require manual processing.

OP - if you aren't able to get all the forms by April 15th, you can get an extension by making an online payment (by April 15th) of the amount you think is due and checking the box that says you are doing it as part of an extension. It's automatically granted, you don't send in a form or anything. If you believe your mother would be due a refund, then you just don't do anything. There's no penalty for late filing if the IRS owes you money, but you do only have 3 years from the return's original due date to claim it.

 

[caninelover]

None of that really applies in cases like this when the spouse is still living. She can file MFJ for 2025. Form 1310 is not needed for a surviving spouse filing a joint return with the deceased spouse, and there's no reason why this type of return would be any more likely to go through extra security or audits or require manual processing.

OP - if you aren't able to get all the forms by April 15th, you can get an extension by making an online payment (by April 15th) of the amount you think is due and checking the box that says you are doing it as part of an extension. It's automatically granted, you don't send in a form or anything. If you believe your mother would be due a refund, then you just don't do anything. There's no penalty for late filing if the IRS owes you money, but you do only have 3 years from the return's original due date to claim it.

Agree and yes I am gone all of April overseas. I already have what I need to file an extension so that's what I'll do, probably. Thanks.

 

[caninelover]

You know how to file for an extension then? A form 1310.? Manual professing? Ready for a wait up to 400+ days? Main reasons for delays? Security reviews? Final audits?

Good luck with that.

Not sure what this means, but maybe your experience is different. I don't need manual professing of anything, it's quite normal to file an extension and the regular return is married filing jointly as surviving spouse.

It sounds like your situation is more complicated, and that's fine.

 

[Dare]

For Social Security, I finally called them when my mom's 1099 never showed up. I think Social Security has automatically defaulted everyone to paperless statements, but then they shut down online account access as soon as they're notified of a death by the funeral home. So there doesn't seem to be any way to get a statement after death except to call.

When I called they said they'd mail it to me, and were even willing to mail it to my address rather than my mom's address since they were already aware of her death. It arrived in just a couple of weeks. Since they already knew about her death, they didn't ask me for a death certificate or anything. So other than sitting on hold for awhile to get through, it was pretty easy.

I'm so sorry about the loss of your dad.

 

[frank05]

I received the statement but it went to her address which the post office forwarded to my address. Did you file a change of address with post office for a deceased person (you need to provide them with a copy the court document)?

 

[Dare]

I haven't filed a change of address; we haven't sold her house yet so have just been getting her mail from her old mailbox. I guess that's one more thing we'll have to do once we sell the house.