When someone dies, the deceased individual’s executor, also called an administrator, is responsible for managing the money and property of the deceased. Money, property, and other assets are commonly referred to as an estate, which upon an individual’s death passes on to the people entitled to it, typically heirs, or individuals called beneficiaries.
The responsibilities of an estate executor are to collect all the decedent’s assets, pay, and creditors and distribute the remaining estate to heirs or other beneficiaries.
A probate court authorizes the estate executor of the deceased to act on the deceased’s behalf with what’s known as Letters Testamentary, granting the executor legal and tax authority over the estate.
The executor will file income tax returns for the deceased individual, including any years the deceased individual failed to file taxes before death. They will also need to file taxes for the estate, which will require a Federal Tax ID.
In the event that an individual dies and leaves behind money, property, or other assets, the administrator, or executor of the estate, will need to obtain what is known as an Employer Identification Number (EIN), also called a Federal Tax ID number. No matter what the entity, whether it be an estate of a deceased individual, a trust tax ID, or another, filing for an EIN is needed.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issues EINs/Tax IDs to distinguish various business entities; it will be a nine-digit number specific to the estate.
Moreover, if the estate operates a business after the owner’s death, the estate executor is required to secure a new Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Tax ID, report wages or income using the new EIN, and report and pay any taxes due.
In the event that you need to secure a Federal Tax ID number for the estate of a deceased individual, or obtain a new EIN/Tax ID, we’re here to help. No matter where you are located, whether it be that you need a Virginia Federal Tax Identification Number, a Colorado EIN, or elsewhere, we’ve got you covered.
Our online forms are quick to read and easy to navigate, and we work hard to get your EIN/Tax ID to you quickly and professionally.