I am PR of my brother's probate. Pertinent details: He died late January 2024 age 60; Two weeks prior to death, he withdrew $4k from his IRA; Vast majority of his assets were in his IRA; He died intestate.
2023 Tax filing: Because he was alive throughout 2023, I filed his taxes (via his SS#) as PR of his estate.
2024 Tax filing: The 2024 $4k IRA distribution induces a 2024 tax liability. (I realize this should have been paid in sync with the withdrawal. His estate had no liquidity until late 2024.)
Upon notice of death, his IRA was converted to an IRA-BDA, still untouched and parked in SPAXX at Fidelity.
(I will henceforth refer to this as the Mothership.) The five sibling beneficiaries (including myself as PR) have not yet established their respective BDA accts. Point-being: It is my understanding that the existing Mothership IRA-BDA is owned by the Estate (and hence, identifified by the IRS via the IRS-provided Estate EIN). (?)
Prior to the Mothership being emptied into the five soon-to-be orbitting satellite BDA's, I (as PR) need funds from this Mothership to pay Estate and Probate expenses. These Estate-obligated expenses will induce a tax liability, assumedly levied against the Estate.
So...
As he was alive for three weeks of 2024, will I be filing his 2024 return for the last time via his SS#?
Or, am I now expected to file via the IRS-provided Estate EIN? (I believe via Form 1041?)
Or, am I expected to file two returns, acknowledging his three living weeks of 2024 and posthumous Estate?
Seems clear the Estate must pay both his $4k pre-death distribution and the forthcoming Mothership IRA-BDA distribution. But the circumstances for withdrawal were different. Hence, these questions.
Thank you in advance for reading to the end. 🙂
