Filing for deceased brother

[ghd]

Yesterday I filed a 1040 for my deceased brother using TurboTax.  (He died earlier this year and I'm filing his 2019 returns)  I am the court-appointed Administrator handling his final affairs.  At the end of the process, TurboTax informed me that I could not file electronically for him even though the website and the IRS site both say this is allowed.  I had no choice but to choose the option to file a paper copy and I printed out the federal and state returns.  Today I learned that the IRS is not processing paper returns and they strongly encourage electronic filing. My brother is owed a refund and I provided the bank direct deposit info for the estate account I set up for him.  I don't need to file a 1310 form since I'm not claiming his refund for myself, but due to somewhat vague instructions I wasn't aware of this as I was inputting the data.  Is there any way I can resolve this issue and file electronically?  

[macuser_22 · Accepted solution]

I do not believe that the IRS says that.    That provision is for a spouse filing for a deceased spouse, not another person.

When  filing for a non-spouse you are required to sign the return with your name as "personal representative for xxxx) - or executor if you were appointed executor by a court.    It is not possible to sign a e-file that way - only with pen and ink on paper.

(e-filed returns are deemed to have been signed by the person named on the tax return and it not possible for a deceased person to sign and file their own tax return._

Suggest that you read IRS Pub 559 (Survivors, Executors, and Administrators) for a lot of good information about filing the final return and estate return and other requirements.

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p559.pdf