Do I NEED to file a decedent return?

[armsapplepie]

I was named executor in my widowed aunts will.

She sold her house in 2023, received proceeds of less than $250,000, and used that to live on. She put that money in a joint account with her and I as the owners. (The bank has since taken her name off the account as the social security office notified them of her death.) Everything was liquidated prior to her passing.

Her only source of income was social security. There are no other known assets. She passed in 2024.

She had not filed a return in many many years as there was no tax due on the small monthly social security income. 

I have not opened a trust as there are no assets.

Do I need to file? Or get an EIN?

[RobertB4444]

No, you don't need to file a return.  But you should save the documents on the house sale in case there is a question raised in the future about the proceeds.  Since it was her primary residence it isn't taxable but the IRS only knows that for sure if you tell them so it is possible (although unlikely) that they will ask about it down the road.  Other than that she has no reporting requirements.

@armsapplepie