Your Deceased Loved One and IRS Debt - Who Has to Pay the Tab?

Saying goodbye...What happens when a loved onebeing nothing of value to satisfy the creditors or the
passes away and leaves an IRS debt behind? DoesIRS then the account is closed as non collectible.
that debt fall onto you? Or can the IRS collect on aYou may end up in debt too...However, before you
deceased person's tax debt at all?start to enjoy your new found inheritance there are
The only way the debt can fall to you is if you filedsome things that you should know; because the IRS
jointly at which point you would become the primaryplans for the assets dear old grandpa left you in his
debtor and still owe the IRS.Will. Some of that inheritance is taxable and some isn't.
A family affair...However, if that isn't the situation thenIt's important to know the details of your inheritance so
who does have to pick up the tab? After all the IRSthat you don't end up in a pickle with the IRS too.
doesn't like to give up on any money it's owed; even if· Life Insurance payouts are non taxable.
the IRS has to dig up grandpa's corpse to get it. IThat's because Life Insurance isn't considered income
never had to disrespect the final resting places of thebecause it's used to take care of the deceased's
dead when I was an IRS-Hitman. We took care offuneral and provide for family.
seizing any personal valuable before your loved one· Lump sum cash inheritance is considered
went into the ground.income and is therefore taxable. If you receive a lump
The bare bones...Here's how things work when asum inheritance then you need to report it on your
deceased loved one owes the IRS. The executor oftaxes as income and be prepared to pay taxes on
the estate has to inventory all assets. Once that isthe amount.
done any debts the deceased had prior to his/ her· Property such as houses or cars is non
death are paid, and the remaining assets both liquid andtaxable unless they're sold. Any proceeds from the
non liquid is distributed among the beneficiaries per thesale of inherited assets are also considered income
Will.and must be reported on your taxes.
That assumes there is an estate or assets to sell andHaving to go through the death of a loved one can be
pay off creditors. For example if assets or propertydifficult enough without having to worry about the IRS
were transferred prior to or upon death, if stated in agetting involved.
Will, there isn't anything collectible. In the case of thereNow you have the smoking gun...Use it!