Date: September 25th, 2026

Time: 2pm ET | 1pm CT | 12pm MT | 11pm PT

Duration: 120 minutes

Course Overview

This course provides a structured, practical roadmap through that post‑death landscape. It begins with the decedent’s final Form 1040, explaining how to report income up to the date of death, handle filing status and dependency issues, and administer refunds using Form 1310 when appropriate. From there, the course moves into the taxation of estates and trusts under Form 1041, covering when an estate must file (for example, more than $600 of gross income after death), how income and deductions are reported at the estate level, and how Schedule K‑1 allocates those items to beneficiaries.

Participants then examine the estate tax system and Form 706, focusing on when an estate tax return is required, when it is filed purely to elect portability of the deceased spouse’s unused exclusion, and how basis consistency rules under Section 1014(f) and Form 8971 affect beneficiaries’ basis in inherited property. The course also explains Qualified Revocable Trust elections under IRC §645, showing how this election can simplify administration by treating the trust as part of the estate for income tax purposes, and highlighting the practical pros and cons for fiduciary.

Throughout, the program uses case studies and real‑world examples to demonstrate how proper planning and coordination across Forms 1040, 1041, and 706 can:

• Preserve tax benefits, such as portability and favorable basis treatment.

• Reduce administrative complexity and the risk of inconsistent or duplicative reporting.

• Avoid common pitfalls, including missed filing thresholds, incorrect allocation of IRD, and failure to meet timing requirements for key elections.gerstnerlaw+2

By the end of the course, attendees will have a clear framework for approaching post‑death tax engagements—from the initial identification of required returns to the implementation of elections and planning strategies that protect both the estate and its beneficiaries.

Topics Covered:

• Preparing the final Form 1040 for a deceased taxpayer, including income cut‑off, filing status, and refund procedures via Form 1310.
• Income in Respect of a Decedent (IRD): identification, allocation, and reporting on Form 1040 and Form 1041.
• Estate income taxation using Form 1041, filing thresholds, and beneficiary reporting via Schedule K‑1.
• Qualified Revocable Trust and IRC §645 elections: scope, timing, and administrative impact.
• Form 706 estate tax returns, portability elections, and Form 8971 basis consistency reporting requirements

Learning Objectives

• Identify the filing requirements and key differences among Form 1040 (final individual return), Form 1041 (estate and trust income tax return), and Form 706 (estate tax return), including when each is required and who is responsible for filing.
• Explain how post‑death income, deductions, and Income in Respect of a Decedent (IRD) are allocated between the decedent’s final Form 1040 and the estate or beneficiaries, and understand the practical implications of those allocations.
• Apply the rules for preparing a decedent’s final income tax return, including filing status, reporting income through date of death, claiming deductions and credits, and properly handling refunds via Form 1310 when required.
• Analyze estate and trust reporting requirements under Form 1041, including filing thresholds, income characterization, use of Schedule K‑1 for beneficiaries, and coordination with the decedent’s final return.
• Evaluate portability elections, IRC §645 Qualified Revocable Trust elections, and basis consistency reporting requirements (Form 8971), and understand how these decisions affect the surviving spouse and beneficiaries.
• Assess common post‑mortem tax planning opportunities and compliance risks, including timing of income and deductions, choice of tax year, and missed elections that can permanently forfeit valuable tax benefits.

Credits and Other information:

• Recommended CPE credit – 2.0
• Credits – IRS & NASBA
• Recommended field of study – Tax
• Session Prerequisites and preparation: None
• Session learning level: Basic
• Location: Virtual/Online
• Delivery method: Group Internet Based
• Attendance Requirement:  Yes
• Session Duration: 120 minutes

Who Will Benefit:

• CPA
• Enrolled Agents (EAs)
• Tax Professionals
• Attorneys
• Other Tax Preparers
• Finance professionals
• Financial planners

About Our Speaker :

Gregory Holzel, CPA, MBA

Gregory Holzel is a CPA with strong expertise in financial analysis, auditing, and budgeting, and the founder of GT Financials PLLC, a Pennsylvania-based firm serving small businesses with tailored accounting and financial advisory services. He brings a blend of academic excellence and hands-on audit experience to his work with clients and to his role as an instructor.Professionally, Gregory developed his audit foundation at S.R. Snodgrass, P.C. in King of Prussia, PA, serving as a Senior Auditor from 2021 to 2023. In that role, he audited financial statements and provided assurance services for financial institutions and employee benefit plans, prepared detailed audit work papers, documented test procedures and findings, and drafted reports for management review. This experience gave him deep exposure to financial reporting, internal controls, and regulatory requirements across complex entities