The 1st final filing Deadline is September 30 Estate Tax Filing Deadline: What You Need to Know

If you’re serving as an executor, trustee, or administrator, hopefully you have marked your calendar for September 30, 2025. Executors and trustees who were unable to meet the April 15, 2025 deadline for calendar-year estates should have filed Form 7004, which grants a six-month filing extension.

This is the final deadline for estates and trusts that requested an extension to file their 2024 income tax return. Missing this date can result in penalties, interest, and unnecessary complications for both the Estate and its beneficiaries.

Who Must File

• If an estate or trust has $600 or more of gross income during the year, or if any beneficiary is a nonresident alien, then it is required to file Form 1041

  (Estate and Trust Income Tax Return).

• If the decedent’s estate, plus lifetime gifts, exceeds the federal exemption

  ($13.61 million in 2024), then the estate is required to file Form 706 (Estate Tax Return) this is due nine months after the date of death the decedent. Executors may also file Form 706 to elect portability of a deceased spouse’s unused exemption, even if no estate tax is due.

  
  

Filing Requirements

To complete the return, the executor or trustee must:

1. Report all estate or trust income, deductions, gains, and losses.

2. Provide Schedule K-1s to beneficiaries for their share of income.

3. Include documentation such as appraisals, bank statements, investment records, and administration expenses.

4. Check state-level estate or inheritance tax rules, as many states have separate thresholds and deadlines.

If you believe an estate return needs to be completed and this process seems complicated. Tax Professionals are always ready and available to assist you even with the pending deadline.

Why Timely Filing Matters

Filing by September 30 ensures compliance, avoids costly penalties, and preserves important tax elections like portability. It also ensures beneficiaries receive accurate tax information in time for their own returns.

In conclusion, the September 30 deadline marks the final opportunity for extended estate and trust filings in 2024. Executors and trustees should begin gathering all necessary records promptly and, to ensure accuracy and compliance, are strongly encouraged to seek guidance from a qualified tax professional. With expert advice, you can navigate complex requirements, avoid costly errors, and file with confidence before the deadline.

My Aunt Myrtle always use to say, it is never to late unless you never start.