Estate Tax Return

Settling an estate comes with legal, financial, and emotional complexity. When an estate exceeds federal or state filing thresholds, accurate estate tax reporting becomes essential.

What an Estate Tax Return Involves

An estate tax return (Form 706) reports the total value of a decedent’s estate and calculates any estate tax owed. This includes:

  • Real estate, investment, and bank accounts

  • Business interests and ownership stakes

  • Retirement accounts and annuities

  • Life insurance proceeds (when applicable)

  • Gifts made during the decedent’s lifetime

  • Deductions for debts, expenses, and charitable contributions

Even when no tax is ultimately due, filing may still be required to preserve elections or properly document the estate.

Our Estate Tax Services

We support estates through every stage of the estate tax reporting process, including:

  • Preparation and filing of federal estate tax returns (Form 706)

  • Coordination with appraisers and valuation professionals

  • Review of asset documentation and ownership structure

  • Calculation of estate tax liabilities and available deductions

  • Portability elections for surviving spouses, when applicable

  • Assistance responding to questions or notices from the Internal Revenue Service

Our goal is to ensure the estate’s reporting is accurate, complete, and defensible—without unnecessary delays or stress.

Get Guidance You Can Rely On
If you’re responsible for settling an estate and need experienced estate tax support, Messner & Hadley LLP is here to help. We bring structure, accuracy, and professionalism to a process that benefits from all three.
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