Hal_Al
Level 15

Deductions & credits

As others have said, you situation is too complicated for "do it yourself" tax filing.  That said, there are a couple of common items to be aware of: 1. "life estate" and  2. Taxes "follow the money".

 

The usual rule, for a gift, is that the recipient's basis is the giver's basis (what you father paid for it). But there is an exception for the gift of his home, where he retained the right to live there ("life estate"). "If you give away an asset and keep a life estate in that asset..... the cost basis of the house is "stepped-up" to the value of the house on date of death [IRC 2036]")

More info: http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/26/20.2036-1

 

A life estate does not have to be explicitly established in the deed/document. Your father probably had an "implied life estate." If so, that would give you the stepped up basis. There is case law on this. 

http://accessiblelaw.org/Documents/LifeEstates-Inheritances.pdf (IRS document)

 

 Under the follow the money principle, each testamentary beneficiary will report their share of the capital gain. But if the ownership certificate was outside the estate, that may not apply. But, under the stepped up basis rule, there's  probably little or no capital.