You need to file the 1040 for 2017. The 1041 only needs to be filed if the estate had $600 or more in income for 2017, which again, sounds like it did not. That instruction that printed out when you applied for the estate EIN is just general information for estate returns, IRS has no clue at that point whether you have an estate filing requirement or not....in your case, you do not.
Decedent’s Estate
In the case of a death, the executor must file a Tax Return for Estates and Trusts (Form 1041) for a domestic estate that has:
•Gross income of $600 or more for the tax year, or
•A beneficiary who is a non-resident alien
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901403-do-i-have-to-file-a-trust-tax-return
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