Yes, a final tax return will likely need to be filed for your son. Here’s why and how you can do it using TurboTax:
Reasons to File
- Income Reporting: The final tax return must report all income your son earned up to the date of his death
- Credits and Deductions: The return should claim all eligible credits and deductions
- Tax Obligations: If your son had any outstanding tax obligations, these need to be settled
- Refunds: If a refund is due, it can be claimed by filing the final return
How to File in TurboTax
- Start a New Return: Open TurboTax and start a new tax return.
- When prompted - enter Personal Information: When entering your son's personal information, indicate that he is deceased. TurboTax will guide you through this process
- Report Income: Enter all income your son earned up to the date of his death
- Claim Deductions and Credits: Include any eligible deductions and credits
- Finalize and E-file: Follow TurboTax's prompts to finalize and e-file the return. If a refund is due, you may need to file Form 1310
Reasons You Might Not Need to File
- Income Below Filing Threshold: If your son's income was below the IRS filing threshold for 2024, you might not need to file
- No Taxable Income: If he had no taxable income, a return may not be necessary
- No Outstanding Tax Obligations: If there are no outstanding tax obligations, filing might not be required
Additional Questions You May Have
- Who Signs the Return?: The executor or personal representative of the estate should sign the return. If there is no appointed representative, the person in charge of the deceased's property should sign
- What if There Are Outstanding Taxes?: Any outstanding taxes must be paid before the estate can be settled
- What Happens if I Don’t File?: The IRS can place a lien against the estate, which must be resolved before any assets are distributed
For more detailed guidance, you can visit TurboTax's Death in the Family page or the IRS guideline
