# Instructions for Form 8971

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## Record

- **Collection:** Agency decision
- **Document type:** Agency decision

## Text

Instructions for Form 8971
and Schedule A
(Rev. August 2025)

Information Regarding Beneficiaries Acquiring Property From a Decedent
(For use with Form 8971 (Rev. August 2025))
Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless
otherwise noted.

Future Developments

For the latest information about developments related to Form
8971 and its instructions, such as legislation enacted after they
were published, go to IRS.gov/Form8971.

General Instructions
Purpose of Form

Form 8971 and copies of Schedules A provide information to the
IRS about beneficiaries who acquired property from a decedent.
Schedule A provides basis information to beneficiaries who
acquire certain property from the decedent.
Furnish a Schedule A that reports property acquired by a
beneficiary to only that beneficiary. Do not furnish a copy
CAUTION of the Form 8971 to any beneficiary.

!

Basis information is needed by persons who acquire certain
property from a decedent in order to comply with the consistent
basis requirement of section 1014(f). If a beneficiary acquires
property subject to the consistent basis requirement, the
beneficiary cannot use a value higher than the value reported on
the Schedule A as the beneficiary's initial basis in the property.
(See section 1014(f) and section 1.1014-10 of the Regulations
for rules applicable to the consistent basis requirement.)

Who Must File

An executor of an estate or other person(s) required to file Form
706 or Form 706-NA (estate tax return) under IRC section
6018(a) or 6018(b) is required to file Form 8971 and furnish
Schedules A to certain beneficiaries. More than one person may
be required to file a Form 8971 for the same decedent's estate.
(See Executor defined for purposes of Form 8971, later.) Only an
executor of an estate for which a Form 706 or Form 706-NA is
filed after July 2015, whether or not that form is filed timely, is
required to file Form 8971. (See the Instructions for Form 706 or
Form 706-NA, for more information on the filing requirement for
those forms.)
Form 8971 isn’t required when:

• The gross estate plus adjusted taxable gifts and specific

exemption is less than the basic exclusion amount applicable in
the year of decedent's death;
• Estate tax-related forms other than Form 706 or Form 706-NA
(for example, Forms 706-QDT, 706-CE, and 706-GS(D)), are
filed; or
• The estate tax return is filed solely to make an allocation or
election respecting the generation-skipping transfer tax, solely to
elect portability of the deceased spousal exclusion amount
(DSUE), or solely as a protective filing to avoid a penalty or
satisfy a state law requirement.
Note. A complete Form 8971 includes a copy of each
Schedule A (if any) furnished or required to be furnished to a
beneficiary. Form 8971 and copies of Schedules A (if any) must
Jun 25, 2025

be filed with the IRS separate from any and all other tax returns
filed by the estate. The executor is required to timely file a Form
8971 even if no Schedules A are furnished or required to be
furnished when the Form 8971 is filed.

When To File
Due date. Form 8971 must be filed with the IRS and each
required Schedule A (see Required Schedules A, later) must be
furnished to only the beneficiary listed on that Schedule A, no
later than the earlier of:
• The date that is 30 days after the date on which Form 706 or
Form 706-NA is required to be filed (including extensions) with
the IRS; or
• The date that is 30 days after the date Form 706 or Form
706-NA is filed with the IRS.
(See Supplementing Forms 8971 and Schedules A, later, for
when an executor is required to file a supplement to Form 8971
and Schedules A and due dates for supplementing.)
Note. If the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal
holiday, the executor may file on the next business day.

Where To File

File Form 8971 (including all Schedule(s) A) at the following
address.
Internal Revenue Service
Mail Stop 824G
7940 Kentucky Drive
Florence, KY 41042
Furnish a Schedule A to each individual beneficiary, each
trustee of a beneficiary trust, and each executor of a beneficiary
estate, required to receive a Schedule A:
• In person;
• By email;
• By U.S. mail to the beneficiary’s last known address; or
• By private delivery service to the beneficiary’s last known
address (see Private delivery services, later).
The executor must certify on Form 8971, Part II, column (d),
the date on which Schedule A was provided to each beneficiary
and should keep proof of mailing, proof of delivery,
acknowledgment of receipt, or other information relevant for the
estate's records. In cases where a trust or another estate is a
beneficiary and has multiple trustees or executors, providing
Schedule A to one trustee or executor is sufficient.
Private delivery services. Certain private delivery services
designated by the IRS may be used to meet the “timely mailing
as timely filing” rule for tax returns. These private delivery
services include only the following.
• UPS Next Day Air Early A.M., UPS Next Day Air, UPS Next
Day Air Saver, UPS 2nd Day Air, UPS 2nd Day Air A.M., UPS
Worldwide Express Plus, and UPS Worldwide Express.
• DHL Express 9:00, DHL Express 10:30, DHL Express 12:00,
DHL Express Worldwide, DHL Express Envelope, DHL Import

Instructions for Form 8971 (Rev. 8-2025) Catalog Number 68440S
Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service www.irs.gov

Express 10:30, DHL Import Express 12:00, and DHL Import
Express Worldwide.
• FedEx First Overnight, FedEx Priority Overnight, FedEx
Standard Overnight, FedEx 2 Day, FedEx International Next
Flight Out, FedEx International Priority, FedEx International First,
and FedEx International Economy.
To check for any updates to the list of designated private
delivery services, go to IRS.gov/PDS.
If you are mailing Form 8971 through a private delivery
service, you may use the address shown above. The private
delivery service can tell you how to get written proof of the
mailing date.

Supplementing Forms 8971 and
Schedules A

An executor is required to file with the IRS a supplement to any
previously filed Form(s) 8971 and to furnish to each affected
beneficiary a Schedule A (or supplement) if:
• A beneficiary acquires property that is not excepted property
(see Excepted property defined, later) and that property is not
reported on a Schedule A previously furnished to the beneficiary
and attached to a Form 8971 previously filed with the IRS; or
• There is a change to the information required to be reported
on a Form 8971, including Schedules A (or supplements), that
causes the information as previously reported to be incorrect or
incomplete.
How to report a supplemental filing. On both the
supplemental Form 8971 and each supplemental Schedule A,
the “Supplemental Filing” box should be checked. Only
information that has changed should be reported.
Due date of supplement to report property acquired after
the due date of the Form 706 or Form 706-NA. If, after the
due date of the Form 706 or Form 706-NA (or the earlier filing of
Form 8971), a beneficiary acquires property subject to reporting
that is not excepted property (see Excepted property defined,
later) and the executor has not previously furnished the
beneficiary with a Schedule A correctly reporting that property,
the executor must furnish a Schedule A to that beneficiary with
regard to that acquired property on or before January 31 of the
year following the beneficiary's acquisition of that property. By
that same January 31, the executor must file with the IRS a
supplement to the Form 8971 and attach copies of all Schedules
A or supplements to Schedules A furnished or required to be
furnished on or before that January 31.
Due date to supplement to report a change to information.
If there is a change to the information required to be reported on
a Form 8971, including Schedules A (or supplements), that
causes the information as previously reported to be incorrect or
incomplete, the executor must file with the IRS a supplement to a
previously filed Form 8971 (or supplement thereto) and furnish
affected beneficiaries a Schedule A (or supplement thereto) to
report the change on or before 30 days after the date on which
information becomes available to the executor from which the
executor can conclude that a change to the information provided
on the Form 8971 or Schedule A (or any supplement thereto)
requires the Form 8971 or Schedule A to be supplemented.
For changes occurring as a result of supplementing the estate
tax return, the date on which the information becomes available
to the executor is deemed to be the filing date of the
supplemental information. Therefore, for changes occurring as a
result of supplementing the estate tax return, the due date of the
supplemental reporting is 30 days after the filing date of the
supplemental information. For changes occurring as a result of a
determination of final value (see Final value defined, later), the
date on which the information becomes available to the executor
is deemed to be the date a value becomes the final value.
2

Therefore, for changes occurring as a result of a determination of
final value, the due date of the supplemental reporting is 30 days
after the date a value becomes the final value. However, for
property that has not been acquired by a beneficiary on or before
the due date and for which the executor has not furnished a
Schedule A reporting the property, the due date to file a
supplement to the Form 8971 and furnish a Schedule A to report
a change to information may be delayed until January 31 of the
year following the beneficiary's acquisition of that property.
Examples of changes to information that require supplement. A non-exhaustive list of changes that require
supplemental reporting includes the following.
• Change in beneficiary information. The receipt, discovery,
or acquisition by the executor of information that changes the
beneficiary to whom property is to be distributed (pursuant to a
death, disclaimer, bankruptcy, or otherwise), or corrects or
completes other beneficiary information that was previously
reported.
• Change or addition of property subject to reporting. The
supplementing of an estate tax return to report the estate tax
value of property not previously reported on a Form 706 or Form
706-NA or supplement thereto. The inclusion of previously
unreported property in the decedent's gross estate pursuant to
an examination by the IRS or otherwise.
• Change in property to be acquired by beneficiary. When
an executor furnishes a Schedule A to a beneficiary prior to the
beneficiary's acquisition of property and the beneficiary
ultimately acquires property different from the property identified
on that Schedule A (for example, as the result of a like-kind
exchange under section 1031 or an involuntary conversion).
• Change in the identified value of property. The
supplementing of an estate tax return to report a corrected
estate tax value (see Estate tax value, later) of property that was
previously reported. A determination of the final value (see Final
value defined, later) of property for federal estate tax purposes
that differs from the value that was previously reported.
Duration of duty to supplement. An executor's duty to
supplement continues to apply until final value (see Final value
defined, later) is determined for all property subject to reporting
or, if later, until all property subject to reporting has been
acquired by a beneficiary.

Rounding Off to Whole Dollars

The value of property should be reported in U.S. dollars and
rounded to whole-dollar amounts. To round, drop amounts under
50 cents and increase amounts from 50 to 99 cents to the next
dollar. For example, $1.39 becomes $1 and $2.55 becomes $3.
If you add two or more amounts to figure an item's value, include
the cents when adding the amounts and round off only the total.

Penalties

Note. An executor may be subject to penalties for failure to file
and/or furnish correct Forms 8971 and Schedules A even if there
was no tax due on the estate tax return.

Failure to file correct Forms 8971 by the due date (section
6721). If an executor required to file Form 8971 fails to file with
the IRS a correct and complete Form 8971 (or supplement) by
the due date and doesn't show reasonable cause, a penalty may
be imposed. The penalty applies if there is a failure to file timely,
a failure to include all information required to be shown on the
form or schedules required to be attached, a failure to include
correct information on the form or schedules required to be
attached, or a failure to supplement Form 8971 timely. A
complete Form 8971 (or supplement) includes copies of all
Schedules A furnished or required to be furnished to
beneficiaries by the due date of the Form 8971.

Instructions for Form 8971 and Schedule A

Only one penalty will apply to each Form 8971 required to be
filed. The initial Form 8971 and each supplement to that Form
8971 is a separate filing.
The amount of the penalty depends on when the correct Form
8971 is filed and is subject to adjustment for inflation. For the
amount of the penalty (including a minimum penalty for
intentional disregard of the filing requirement), see IRS.gov/
Payments/Information-Return-Penalties.
Inconsequential error or omission on Form 8971. An
inconsequential error or omission isn't considered a failure to
include correct information. An inconsequential error or omission
doesn't prevent or hinder the IRS from processing the Form 8971
and the Schedules A required to be filed along with it. Errors and
omissions that are never inconsequential are those related to a
TIN, a beneficiary's surname, and the value of the asset the
beneficiary is receiving from the estate.
Note. A TIN is a Social Security Number (SSN), an Employer
Identification Number (EIN), an Individual Taxpayer Identification
Number (ITIN), or any other number used by the IRS in the
administration of tax laws. See Part II Beneficiary Information,
later, for information on obtaining the TIN of a beneficiary of the
estate.
Safe harbor exception for certain de minimis errors of
Form 8971. Generally, if the failure to include correct
information is an inadvertent failure to include the correct dollar
amount, the error is de minimis, and the Form 8971 (including all
Schedules A) is otherwise correct and was timely filed, the Form
8971 is treated as having been filed with the correct information.
An error in dollar amount on Form 8971 is de minimis if the
difference between any single incorrect amount and the correct
amount is not more than $100. This exception does not apply if
the incorrect dollar amount relates to an amount included on a
Schedule A and the beneficiary to whom the Schedule A was
furnished elects to have the exception for certain de minimis
errors on a Schedule A not apply to the Schedule A (see Safe
harbor exception for certain de minimis errors on Schedule A,
later).
Failure to furnish correct Schedules A to beneficiaries by
the due date (section 6722). If an executor required to file
Form 8971 fails to furnish to a beneficiary a correct and complete
Schedule A (or supplement) by the due date and doesn't show
reasonable cause, a penalty may be imposed. The penalty
applies if there is a failure to furnish the Schedule A timely, a
failure to include all information required to be shown on the
schedule, a failure to include correct information on the
schedule, or a failure to supplement Schedule A timely. The
penalty applies to each Schedule A and each supplement to that
Schedule A required to be furnished.
The amount of the penalty depends on when a correct
Schedule A is furnished and is subject to adjustment for inflation.
For the amount of the penalty (including the minimum penalty for
intentional disregard of the requirement to furnish a statement),
see IRS.gov/Payments/Information-Return-Penalties.
Inconsequential error or omission on Schedule A. An
inconsequential error or omission isn't considered a failure to
include correct information. An inconsequential error or omission
can't reasonably be expected to prevent or hinder the beneficiary
from timely receiving correct information and using the
information to report basis on the beneficiary's own return. Errors
and omissions that are never inconsequential are those related
to the value of the asset the beneficiary is receiving from the
estate and those related to a significant item in a beneficiary's
address.
Safe harbor exception for certain de minimis errors on
Schedule A. Generally, if the failure to include correct
information is an inadvertent failure to include the correct dollar
Instructions for Form 8971 and Schedule A

amount, the error is de minimis, and the Schedule A is otherwise
correct and was timely furnished, the Schedule A is treated as
having been furnished with the correct information. An error in
dollar amount on Schedule A is de minimis if the difference
between any single incorrect amount and the correct amount is
not more than $100. This exception does not apply if the
beneficiary to whom the Schedule A was furnished elects to
have the exception not apply to the Schedule A. For information
on making an election to have the safe harbor exception not
apply, see section 301.6722-1(d)(3) of the Procedure and
Administration Regulations (TD 9984, De Minimis Error Safe
Harbor Exceptions to Penalties for Failure To File Correct
Information Returns or Furnish Correct Payee Statements
published in the Federal Register (88 FR 88696) on December
19, 2023).
Reasonable cause exception to the penalties. The penalties
for failing to file correct Form 8971 (or supplement) and
Schedules A with the IRS and for failing to furnish correct
Schedules A (or supplements) to beneficiaries won't apply to any
failure that is shown to be due to reasonable cause and not to
willful neglect. In general, it must be shown that the failure was
due to an event beyond the executor's control or due to
significant mitigating factors. It must also be shown that the
executor acted in a responsible manner, both before and after
the failure occurred, and took steps to avoid the failure.

Penalties for Inconsistent Filing

Beneficiaries who report basis in property that is inconsistent
with the amount on the Schedule A may be liable for a 20%
accuracy-related penalty under section 6662. Beneficiaries who
report a basis in property acquired from a decedent that is 200%
or more of the correct amount may be liable for a 40% penalty for
a gross valuation misstatement under section 6662(h), instead of
the 20% penalty.

Obtaining Forms and Publications To
File or Use

You can access the IRS website 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
at IRS.gov to:
• Download forms, instructions, and publications;
• Order IRS products;
• Research tax questions;
• Search publications by topic or keyword; and
• Sign up to receive local and national tax news by email.

Defined Terms and Specific
Instructions
Executor defined for purposes of Form 8971. For purposes
of this Form 8971, the term “executor” includes the executor,
personal representative, or administrator of the decedent's
estate. If none of these is appointed, qualified, and acting in the
United States, every person in actual or constructive possession
of any property of the decedent is considered an executor. Thus,
more than one person may be required to file a Form 8971 for
the same decedent's estate. If no executor is appointed by a
court or if one executor is unable to file a complete estate tax
return (for example, if the executor has insufficient information
about property in the decedent's gross estate that is not in the
possession of that executor), each person required to file a Form
706 or Form 706-NA is required to file Form 8971 and Schedules
A, but only with regard to the property reported or required to be
reported by that person.
Beneficiaries required to be identified on Form 8971. Form
8971 must identify each beneficiary (including an executor who
is a beneficiary) to whom the executor is required to furnish a
Schedule A and must identify each beneficiary to whom the
3

executor has furnished an optional Schedule A on or before the
date on which the Form 8971 is filed. (See Required Schedules
A and Optional Schedules A, later.) If the executor is required to
furnish a Schedule A to a beneficiary and the executor is unable
to locate the beneficiary by the date required for filing the Form
8971 with the IRS, then the executor must identify the
beneficiary on the Form 8971 and attach a statement to the
Form 8971 detailing the executor's efforts to locate the
beneficiary. The executor is not required to identify any
beneficiary on Form 8971 if no Schedules A are furnished or
required to be furnished when the Form 8971 is filed.
Required Schedules A. An executor is required to furnish a
Schedule A to a beneficiary (including an executor who is a
beneficiary) that acquired property subject to reporting if:
• The beneficiary acquired the property on or before the due
date of the estate tax return (or, if earlier, the date on which the
estate tax return is filed with the IRS), (see When property is
acquired, later) and
• Any property acquired by the beneficiary is not excepted
property (see Excepted property defined, later).
The Schedule A must report each property subject to
reporting (that is not excepted property) acquired by the
beneficiary on or before the due date of the estate tax return (or,
if earlier, the date on which the estate tax return is filed with the
IRS) (see Property subject to reporting and Excepted property
defined, later).
(See Supplementing Forms 8971 and Schedules A, earlier,
for when a Schedule A (or a supplement to Schedule A) is
required to be furnished to a beneficiary and attached to a
supplement to Form 8971 filed with the IRS.)
Optional Schedules A. If an executor is not required to report a
property on a required Schedule A because a beneficiary has
not yet acquired the property, the executor may nevertheless
report the property on a Schedule A furnished to a beneficiary
that the executor has reason to believe will acquire the property.
Such a Schedule A is referred to as an optional Schedule A. The
optional Schedule A can include property reported on a required
Schedule A or is reported on a separate Schedule A.
When property is acquired. A beneficiary acquires property
when, under local law, title vests in the beneficiary or when the
beneficiary otherwise has sufficient control over or connection
with the property that the beneficiary is able to take action
related to the property for which basis is relevant for federal
income tax purposes (for example, to sell or depreciate the
property). In many cases, a beneficiary's acquisition of property
occurs upon an executor's or trustee's distribution of the
property. For property passing by contract or by operation of law,
the beneficiary's acquisition of that property generally occurs
automatically upon the death of the decedent.
Property subject to reporting. Except for excepted property
subject to only limited reporting, the property subject to reporting
is included property and any other property the basis of which is
determined, in whole or in part, by reference to the basis of the
included property (for example, property acquired in a like-kind
exchange or an involuntary conversion). For this purpose,
included property is property the value of which is included in the
value of the decedent's gross estate. Generally, included
property refers to property whose value is reported on an estate
tax return, but it also refers to property whose value otherwise is
included in the total value of the gross estate (for example,
during examination by the IRS). Thus, included property includes
property that qualified, in whole or in part, for an estate tax
marital deduction or for an estate tax charitable deduction. It
further includes property included in the decedent's gross estate
that is distributed to a surviving spouse in satisfaction of that
surviving spouse's interest in community property not included in
the gross estate that the executor has distributed to a
4

non-spouse pursuant to state law properly applied. However,
included property does not include property whose value is not
reported on an estate tax return and whose value is not
otherwise included in the value of the decedent's gross estate,
such as the property of a deceased nonresident noncitizen that
is not subject to United States estate tax and the surviving
spouse's share of community property.
Executor must file a Form 8971 when all property is excepted property. The executor is required to timely file Form 8971
with the IRS even if all property subject to reporting is excepted
property. However, the executor is not required to provide
information for excepted property on a Schedule A.
Excepted property defined. Excepted property includes:
(i) United States dollars (as defined later);
(ii) United States dollar-denominated demand deposits;
(iii) Certificates of deposit denominated in United States
dollars;
(iv) Cash collateral denominated in United States dollars
held by a third party to secure a liability (such as a deposit of
purchase money or a security deposit);
(v) Shares of a registered investment company priced in
United States dollars that is a money market fund under Rule
2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR
270.2a);
(vi) Life insurance proceeds on the life of the decedent
payable in a lump sum in United States dollars;
(vii) Federal, state, and local tax refunds and other refunds
payable in United States dollars;
(viii) Notes that are forgiven in full by the decedent upon the
decedent's death, whether or not denominated in United
States dollars;
(ix) Household and personal effects for which an appraisal is
not required under section 20.2031-6(b) of the Estate Tax
Regulations;
(x) Property that, prior to distribution from the estate or the
decedent's revocable trust, is completely sold, exchanged,
or otherwise disposed of in one or more transactions that are
recognition events for federal income tax purposes (whether
or not resulting in a gain or loss, and whether or not any gain
is capital or ordinary). Such property includes, but is not
limited to: (a) Property distributed in satisfaction of a
pecuniary bequest on which the estate recognizes any gain
or loss pursuant to section 1.661(a)-2(f) of the Income Tax
Regulations; (b) Property for which an election under section
643(e)(3) has been made for the estate to recognize any
gain or loss; (c) Interests in a business entity that are
redeemed for United States dollars prior to being distributed
to the beneficiary; (d) Property disposed of in a transaction
described in section 267(a) and (b)(13); and (e) Property
subject to the mark to market accounting method at the time
of distribution from the estate or from the decedent's
revocable trust;
(xi) Other property having an initial basis that is not in any
way determined with regard to or derived from the property's
fair market value for federal estate tax purposes. For
purposes of this section, such property includes but is not
limited to: (a) Annuity contracts subject to section 72 and
amounts received as an annuity subject to section 72; (b) An
interest in property that consists entirely of the right to
receive an item of income in respect of a decedent as
defined in section 691; (c) Amounts received under
installment obligations arising from a transaction for which
the installment method for determining gain under section
453 applies; (d) Appreciated property described in section
1014(e) that is acquired by the decedent within 1 year of
death; (e) Stock of a passive foreign investment company
subject to section 1296(i), but only when the basis of such
stock is the adjusted basis in the hands of the decedent
Instructions for Form 8971 and Schedule A

immediately before the decedent's death; and (f) Interests in
and distributions from retirement plans and deferred
compensation plans, including individual retirement
arrangements as defined in section 408 and 408A, that are
expressed entirely in United States dollars;
(xii) Bonds to the extent that they are redeemed by the issuer
for United States dollars prior to being distributed to a
beneficiary so that any resulting gain or loss is recognized by
the estate;
(xiii) Property included in the gross estate of a beneficiary
who died before the due date of the Information Return; and
(xiv) Any other property that is identified as excepted
property in published guidance in the Federal Register or in
the Internal Revenue Bulletin (see Regulations section
601.601(d)(2)(ii)(b)).
United States dollars defined. United States dollars means
the official currency of the United States. This includes physical
United States bills and coins for which the value of each bill or
coin is equivalent to the face amount of that bill or coin. This
definition does not include other physical United States bills or
coins with numismatic value because these bills and coins
typically do not have a value equal to their face value.
Estate tax value. Until the final value of property is determined
for federal estate tax purposes, the estate tax value to be
reported on Schedule A is the value of the property reported on
the Form 706 or Form 706-NA or, when applicable, a
supplement to the Form 706 or Form 706-NA. Once the final
value of property is determined, the estate tax value to be
reported on Schedule A is the final value of the property.
Final value defined. For purposes of section 6035 reporting,
the final value of property is the value as finally determined for
application of the consistent basis rule of section 1014(f). That
value is:
(i) The value reported on an estate tax return filed with the
IRS once the period of limitations on assessment (see
section 6501) of estate tax has expired without that value
having been timely adjusted by the IRS; or
(ii) The value determined or specified by the IRS that differs
from the value reported on an estate tax return filed with the
IRS and the value specified by the IRS for other property
included in the gross estate, once the period of limitations on
assessment applicable to the estate tax has expired without
that value having been timely contested by the executor;
(iii) The value determined in a written agreement with the
IRS (whether entered in the course of the administrative
proceedings between the estate and the IRS or after the
commencement of litigation), once that written agreement
has been executed by both the executor and the IRS and is
binding on all parties (including, but not limited to, the
executor, the IRS, and the beneficiaries); or
(iv) The value determined by a court for the purpose of
determining the estate tax liability of the estate, once the
court's determination no longer can be appealed to any
court.

Line Instructions

Complete Form 8971 in its entirety and attach a copy of each
required Schedule A (if any) and each optional Schedule A (if
any), completed in their entirety. Check the box on line A located
above Part I of the form if this Form 8971 supplements a
previously filed Form 8971. (See Supplementing Forms 8971
and Schedules A, earlier).
Note. The executor is required to timely file a Form 8971 even if
no Schedules A are furnished or required to be furnished when
the Form 8971 is filed. However, the executor is not required to
identify any beneficiary on Form 8971 if no Schedules A are
Instructions for Form 8971 and Schedule A

furnished or required to be furnished when the Form 8971 is
filed.

Part I—Decedent and Executor
Information
Lines 1 through 3. Enter the decedent's name, date of death,
and SSN. If the decedent didn't have an SSN, the executor
should obtain one for the decedent by filing Form SS-5,
Application for a Social Security Card. Form SS-5 is available at
any Social Security Administration (SSA) office, on the Internet
at SSA.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf, or by calling 800-772-1213.
Lines 4 and 5. Enter the executor’s name and phone number. If
there is more than one executor, enter the name of one executor
and see the instructions for line 8.
Line 6. Provide only the TIN of the executor listed on line 4 and
see the instructions for line 8.
Line 7a through 7h. Provide only the address of the executor
listed on line 4. Use Form 8822, Change of Address, to report a
change of the executor’s address. Also, see the instructions for
line 8.
Line 8. Check the box and attach a statement with the name,
address, telephone number, and TIN of each executor (if any)
other than the one named on line 4.
Line 9. If the executor made an election on the estate tax return
to use alternate valuation under section 2032, provide the
alternate valuation date.

Part II—Beneficiary Information
Lines 1 through 8. State the total number of beneficiaries to
the estate. State the number of beneficiaries that have acquired
only excepted property. State the number of beneficiaries that
are expected to acquire (but have not yet acquired) only
excepted property. Check the box if all estate property will be
sold before the estate is distributed.
Provide the information requested below for each beneficiary
required to be identified on this Form 8971 (or supplement). (See
Beneficiaries required to be identified on Form 8971, earlier. See
also, When property is acquired, earlier, and Excepted property
defined, earlier). Duplicate and use page 2 (Part
II—Continuation) if additional entries are needed. Do not
complete lines 7 and 8 on any duplicate page 2.
Column (a). Enter the name of each individual, trust, or other
estate (beneficiary) required to be identified on this Form 8971
(or supplement). Retain a copy of the Form 8971 (including all
attached Schedules A (if any)) for the estate's records.
Column (b). Enter the TIN of each beneficiary identified. If the
executor of the estate solicited a beneficiary's TIN in writing at
the last known address of the beneficiary and hasn't received it
by the due date of the Form 8971, enter “requested” and attach a
copy of the solicitation to Form 8971. A supplement to the Form
8971 and corresponding Schedule A must be filed with the IRS
once the TIN has been obtained.
If a beneficiary trust does not have at least one trustee and a
tax identification number by the due date of the Form 8971, enter
“trust not yet established” and attach a statement to the Form
8971 detailing efforts made by the executor (including copies of
any solicitations) to obtain the name of the trustee and tax
identification number. A supplement to the Form 8971 must be
filed with the IRS and a supplement to Schedule A must be
furnished to each trustee once the beneficiary trust is
established.
Note. Some foreign beneficiaries may not be required to provide
a TIN to the estate. If the foreign beneficiary isn’t required to
5

provide a TIN, enter “Not Required” in the TIN entry space and
attach a statement to the Form 8971 detailing the authority under
which the executor concludes that the beneficiary is not required
to provide a TIN.
Column (d). For each beneficiary, enter the date on which the
executor furnished Schedule A to the beneficiary.
Note. If the executor is required to furnish a Schedule A to a
beneficiary and the executor is unable to locate the beneficiary
by the date required for filing the Form 8971, identify the
beneficiary in column (a), enter the beneficiary's TIN, if known, in
column (b), enter the beneficiary's last known address in column
(c), enter “not furnished” in column (d), and attach a separate
page to the Form 8971 explaining any missing information and
detailing efforts made by the executor to locate the beneficiary
and obtain information.
Column (e). Add total estate tax value for each beneficiary.
Total amount from column (e) should match the totals from all
Schedules A, Part II, line 3, column (h).
Return preparer. Anyone who is paid to prepare the Form 8971
and/or any Schedule A must sign the form as a paid preparer
and give a copy of the completed Form 8971 and/or Schedules
A to the executor required to file Form 706 or Form 706-NA.
Permission to discuss the Form 8971 is limited to the information
reported on (or required to be reported on) the Form 8971 and
attached Schedules A and does not authorize the return
preparer to represent the estate before the IRS or to enter into
any agreements with the IRS regarding the Form 8971 and
attached Schedules A.
Note. A paid preparer may sign original or amended returns by
rubber stamp, mechanical device, or computer software
program.
Form(s) 2848 Power of Attorney. Completing Form 2848 may
authorize the person designated on that form to sign
agreements, consents, waivers, or other documents. Complete
and submit Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of
Representative, per its instructions, if the executor would like the
return preparer to represent the estate before the IRS with
respect to the Form 8971 and Schedules A. A copy of a filed
Form 2848 may be attached to the Form 8971; if attached, write
“copy” at the top of Form 2848. When completing a Form 2848
related to the Form 8971 and Schedules A, remember the
executor, not the estate, is the “taxpayer” to be listed in line 1,
and the TIN listed should also be the executor's TIN. Also, when
filling out line 3, enter “Civil Penalties” in the Description of the
Matter column, “Form 8971/Schedule A” in the Tax Form Number
column, and the decedent's date of death using the four-digit
year and two-digit month as “YYYYMM” in the Year(s) or
Period(s) column.
Note. A Form 2848 authorizing representation with respect to
Form 8971 is limited to the information reported on Form 8971
and Schedules A. It is a separate Form 2848 from a Form 2848
authorizing representation with respect to the Form 706 or Form
706-NA.

Signature and Verification

All executors shown on Form 8971 and listed on any attached
statement are responsible for the reporting requirements related
to Form 8971 and Schedules A. However, it is enough for only
one of the executors to sign Form 8971.
Form 8971 is signed under penalties of perjury and all
executors are responsible for the information included on Form
8971 and Schedules A as filed with the IRS and Schedules A
provided to beneficiaries. All executors are also liable for all
applicable penalties.
6

Schedule A—Beneficiary Information
Regarding Property Acquired From a
Decedent
You will need a copy of the Form 706 or Form 706-NA to
complete this schedule.

An executor required to file Form 8971 must complete and
furnish to beneficiaries all required Schedules A. (See Required
Schedules A, earlier.) The executor may also complete and
furnish to a beneficiary an optional Schedule A. (See Optional
Schedules A, earlier.) If an executor furnishes an optional
Schedule A to a beneficiary, the executor must identify that
beneficiary on Form 8971.
Check the first box on line 8 if this Schedule A supplements a
previously furnished Schedule A. (See Supplementing Forms
8971 and Schedules A, earlier). If this Schedule A supplements
a previously furnished Schedule A, check each of the remaining
boxes that applies to this Schedule A to indicate the reason for
the supplement.
Duplicate and use page 2 (Part II—Continuation) if additional
entries are needed. Attach a copy of each completed
Schedule A to a Form 8971 (or supplement) filed with the IRS.
Furnish each Schedule A only to the beneficiary named on that
Schedule A. Do not provide a copy of the Form 8971 to a
beneficiary. Do not complete lines 3 and 4 on any duplicate
page 2.
Column (a). Number each property for which the executor
furnished or is required to furnish a Schedule A. Continue this
numbering on page 2 of the Schedule A (if necessary).
Columns (b) through (d). Use the same description in
columns (b)–(d) that the executor used for the property on the
Form 706 or Form 706-NA. Also, include in columns (b) and (c)
the schedule and item number where the property was reported
on Form 706 or Form 706-NA, as applicable.
Type all information directly onto the Schedule A. Do not
attach schedules from Form 706. Listings of bulk assets may be
attached to Schedule A in lieu of a detailed description of each
item that has been acquired (or is expected to be acquired, in
the case of an optional Schedule A) by a beneficiary. The listing
should consist of a related property (for example, stocks held in
a single brokerage account) and only include information
relevant to basis reporting such as name/description of the
property, value, and valuation date. Do not attach property
appraisals to Schedule A.
For more information on details to be included by asset type
or schedule, see the Instructions for Form 706 or Form 706-NA.
Column (e). If the beneficiary acquired (or is expected to
acquire, in the case of an optional Schedule A) an undivided
interest (such as a tenancy-in-common or joint tenancy) or an
interest limited in time (such as a life estate or remainder
interest) or any other interest in the property that is less than
absolute ownership of 100% of the property reported on the
estate tax return, indicate the interest in the property the
beneficiary will acquire. For a community property interest,
report only the interest includible in the decedent's gross estate
(for example, 50% community property interest).
Column (f). An entry (Y or N) is required in this column for each
asset. Indicate “Y” only if estate tax was generated and the asset
contributed to the estate tax (for example, the asset wasn't
subject to a marital or charitable deduction).
Generally, any property that qualifies for a marital deduction
under section 2056 or 2056A or a charitable deduction under
section 2055 won't generate estate tax and “N” should be
indicated.
Instructions for Form 8971 and Schedule A

Column (g). Generally, the valuation date of property will be the
decedent’s date of death. If the estate elected to use an
alternate valuation date, enter the alternate valuation date. See
section 2032 for additional guidance.
Column (h). Enter the estate tax value of the property acquired
by the beneficiary. (See Estate tax value, earlier.) The value
reported in column (e) should be the fair market value as of the
decedent's date of death or any alternate valuation date used for
the estate tax return. Report the full fair market value of the
property, undiminished by debt, regardless of whether the estate
tax return reports the net value (fair market value less any debt)
of the property or separately reports the gross value of the
property and the outstanding debt.
Do not allocate uniform basis among beneficiaries that
acquire interests in the same property for different periods of
time. For each beneficiary that acquires an interest in property
limited by time, such as a life estate or remainder interest, list the
full value of the property as reported on the Form 706 or Form
706-NA. For example, if Beneficiary 1 acquires a life estate in
property and Beneficiary 2 acquires a remainder interest in the
same property, report the full value of the property as reported
on the Form 706 or Form 706-NA on the Schedule A furnished to
Beneficiary 1 and on the Schedule A furnished to Beneficiary 2.
For each beneficiary that acquires an undivided interest in
property, such as a tenant-in-common or joint tenant interest,
report the proportional value of the undivided interest acquired
by the beneficiary. For example, if an estate property valued on
the Form 706 at $400,000 is distributed to Beneficiary 1 and
Beneficiary 2 as equal tenants-in-common, list $200,000 on
each beneficiary's Schedule A. For a community property
interest, report only the value of the interest included in the
decedent's estate.
If (as a result of the resolution of a valuation issue or
otherwise), the value reported on a Schedule A previously filed
with the IRS or provided to a beneficiary changes, the executor
must file a supplement to Form 8971 with the IRS and furnish a
supplement Schedule A to each affected beneficiary. (See
Supplementing Forms 8971 and Schedules A and Due date to
supplement to report a change to information, earlier.)
Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice. We ask
for the information on this form to carry out the Internal Revenue
laws of the United States. You are required to give us the
information. We need it to ensure that you are complying with
these laws and to allow us to figure and collect the right amount

Instructions for Form 8971 and Schedule A

of tax. Sections 6035 and 6109, and the regulations, require you
to provide this information.
You aren’t required to provide the information requested on a
form that is subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act unless the
form displays a valid OMB control number. Books or records
relating to a form or its instructions must be retained as long as
their contents may become material in the administration of any
Internal Revenue law. Generally, tax returns and return
information are confidential, as required by section 6103.
However, section 6103 allows or requires the Internal Revenue
Service to disclose information from this form in certain
circumstances. For example, we may disclose information to the
Department of Justice for civil or criminal litigation, and to cities,
states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. commonwealths or
territories for use in administering their tax laws. We may also
disclose this information to other countries under a tax treaty, to
federal and state agencies to enforce federal non-tax criminal
laws, or to federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to
combat terrorism. Failure to provide this information, or providing
false information, may subject you to penalties.
The time needed to complete and file this form and related
schedules will vary depending on individual circumstances. The
estimated average time is:
Recordkeeping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Learning about the law or the form . . . . . . . .
Preparing, copying, assembling, and sending the
form to the IRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

15 hr., 0 min.
3 hr., 0 min.
2 hr., 0 min.

Comments and suggestions. We welcome your comments
about this publication and suggestions for future editions.
You can send us comments through IRS.gov/
FormComments. Or, you can write to the Internal Revenue
Service, Tax Forms and Publications, 1111 Constitution Ave.
NW, IR-6526, Washington, DC 20224.
Although we can't respond individually to each comment
received, we do appreciate your feedback and will consider your
comments and suggestions as we revise our tax forms,
instructions, and publications. Don’t send tax questions, tax
returns, or payments to the above address. Instead, see Where
To File, earlier.

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/agency%3Airs%3A30ae8cf35ec58581. Public record. Not legal advice.