What date do I use if it won't let me enter his DOD which is over a year ago?

[lakeparadise]

My father died over a year ago, why won't it let me enter a date over a year?

[jtax · Accepted solution]

Lakeparadise,

I'm sorry for your loss.

You can only file a 1040 tax return for years in which the taxapayer was alive. For that year you only include income/expenses (for the most part) until the date of death.

After that date you file a 1041 Estate tax return if required to do so. Sometimes the income might need to be reported on a heir's 1040 ("income in respect of a decedent). A 1041 requires Turbotax Business software. This area is fairly complicated. I would recommend at least a consultation with a CPA, Enrolled Agent, or tax/estate attorney. You might find IRS Pub 559 helpful: https://www.irs.gov/publications/p559/

All assets and payors should been notified as soon as possible after the date of death so that future income is reported to the estate or to the beneficiaries. 

[lakeparadise]

thanks much, I tried last year to file and at the end it failed to go thru, and later it said due by Apr 2017..