Deceased Parent tax question

[Deleted]

Do I need to file a tax return for my deceased parent?

She will not owe anything and would probably be getting a small refund.

There is no estate or probate .

Her attorney is telling me I don't need to and that she has probably only filed to get a Homestead credit that I would not be entitled to anyway. 

 I have not talked to the woman that has been doing her taxes yet.

I would happily pass up the small refund to not have to deal with the tax return.

Tax people- what should I do?

[taxref]

You would need to gather her papers, to determine if she had any taxable income for 2015.  If that is the case, a return for her would not be needed.

[Deleted]

Thank you!

[Shooby]

  Yes, you do need to file that tax year.  My mom passed away in March so i had to file for that year that she passed.  Probably nothing will happen if you don't but I did.  However, she still had some assets to distribute.

[Shooby]

  If she was was receiving social security or pension/dividends then there is income that needs to be accounted for in taxes.  

[NoNamePerson]

www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Deceased-Taxpayers-Filing-the-Final-Returns-of-a-Deceased-Taxpayer

This isn't the whole article but a start. I filed a final return for my mother - State/Fed but just because I am a big believer in a paper trail and I wanted to note "deceased"

Deceased Persons – Filing the Final Return(s) of a Deceased Person

In general, the final individual income tax return of a decedent is prepared and filed in the same manner as when they were alive. All income up to the date of death must be reported and all credits and deductions to which the decedent is entitled may be claimed. File the return using Form 1040 or, if the decedent qualifies, one of the simpler forms in the 1040 series (Forms 1040-A or 1040-EZ). More information is available in the Form 1040 Instructions, in Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax, and in IRS Publication 559, Survivors, Executors and Administrators.

If the decedent has not done so, you may also have to file individual income tax returns for years preceding the year of death. From IRS correspondence you find in their personal records, you may learn that the decedent has not filed required returns. You may also obtain verification of non-filing and certain income documents of the decedent from the IRS using IRS Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return. Before you submit any information request to the IRS, see Getting Information from the IRS.

[TheOtherMe]

Mom was filing joint with dad.  Dad no longer has to file a tax return because his income isn't high enough without hers to require filing.  Guessing we won't file one for him when he passes.