Trust Return

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
April 17, 2021
2 replies
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Hi,

I am a trustee of a trust. The grantor of the trust passed away in June 2019. The trust was distributed sometime in March of 2020 to 3 people. I am trying to file the taxes for January 2020 to the time of distribution using Turbo Tax Business (I assume that is the only turbo tax software to use for a 1041).

Does the trust have beneficiaries? I am thinking it does not because the "Beneficiaries" did not get a distribution until Mid March and I am trying to pay taxes with estate money (not beneficiary money) for the time stated above. I hope this make sense. Also, what is the story with K1s?

Thank you very much. This is much harder than I thought it would be.

NCperson

Level 15

your dates are kinda confusing me. appears the trust distributed the assets to three people in March, 2020 and you are trying to complete the Trust's 2020 tax return, is that right.

1) fill out the 1041 form

2) fill out the associated K-1's for the beneficiaries - yes, there are three beneficiaries

The Trust doesn't pay taxes;

those K-1's will transfer any income and expense to the three beneficiaries and they will post them on THEIR tax returns. Any impact of income or expense and therefore the resulting tax will be felt on THEIR tax return.

the term 'trust money' and 'beneficiary money' is really one in the same once the K-1's are distributed. Why are you trying to make the differentiation? that may be hanging you up?????

Doesn't the cash being distributed reflect the income, net of expense on the K-1?

these Trust 1041's can be confusing if you are doing for the 1st time and only 1 time, it may be worth spending the money on an accountant

NCperson

Level 15

who filed the 2019 tax return????? weren't there K-1's at that time as well, since the Grantor died in 2019?

nancysmall60Author

Level 2

I used a CPA for the decedent's personal taxes in 2019. The CPA said the trust did not have to do a return as everything was going on the personal tax return. Was that wrong?

Thank you

Anonymous_

Level 15

@nancysmall60 wrote:
Thank you very much. This is much harder than I thought it would be.

It always is harder than anyone thinks it would be, which is the reason you will see quite a few recommendations for trustees to engage the services of a tax and/or legal professional.

If trust assets (cash or property) have been distributed to three people, the presumably those people are beneficiaries; a trustee cannot simply distribute trust funds to anyone unless authorized by the trust document (which is where you will find the beneficiaries listed). The basic rule is "no beneficiary = no valid trust" since you need at least a grantor, a trustee, and a beneficiary.

A K-1 that is generated by a 1041 and issued to the beneficiary(ies) of a trust lists shares of items of income, gain, deductions, credits, but not distributions of the corpus (principal) of the trust. If the income is recognized and reported on the trust return (Form 1041) and the trust assumes the tax liability, there should be no need for K-1s to be issued. Note, however, that distributions from the trust to the beneficiary(ies) carry with them DNI (distributable net income) so, generally, a beneficiary would be responsible for reporting the income, gain, et al, from the K-1 on that beneficiary's individual income tax return (and assuming the concomitant tax liability).