The executor did apply for an EIN... I think it was required by the bank. What would the executor respond to? Would the IRS reach out if a 1041 isn't received? There appeared to be no way to contact the IRS about 1041. The wording in https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i1041 makes it seem that the executor would not have to file a 1041 since the gross income is less than $600, but I really hope I'm not reading this incorrectly.
It appears that the safest way is to file anyway using TurboTax Business, right? Which just adds salt to the wound for a grieving family paying $150+ just to tell the IRS that the estate owes no income tax.
