Form 1041, U.S. Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts
IRS Form 1041 is an income tax return filed by a decedent's estate or living trust after their death. It's similar to a return that an individual or business would file. It reports income, capital gains, deductions, and losses, but it's subject to somewhat different rules than those that apply to living individuals.
The fiduciary of a domestic decedent's estate, trust, or bankruptcy estate files Form 1041 to report:
The income, deductions, gains, losses, etc. of the estate or trust.
The income that is either accumulated or held for future distribution or distributed currently to the beneficiaries.
Any income tax liability of the estate or trust.
Employment taxes on wages paid to household employees.