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Dad died in February before getting his taxes filed. Due to issues with the post office, I wasn't able to get everything gathered until June. I now have the tax packet (a box!) from Dad's accountant.
He has a note in there for me to sign with my name followed by POA.
POA ended up on his death, but technically, he was still alive for the 2023 tax year. So maybe POA is correct?
Or do I sign with my name followed by executor?
I just hate to ask him another question, I'm sure he is tired of hearing from me.

As you will be clicking on this form that the person filing is deceased (there's a check box for that) or that these are final taxes (if electronically filed your accountant will have clicked that box at the top of the federal forms) it will already be clear to the IRS that your father is deceased and these are old taxes for when he was alive. If you are worried the sign his name followed by POA/Executor. In truth, no matter how much a mess you think this is, the IRS itself is truly in a mess and can't catch up with anything. It's doubtful anyone will even notice anything at all on the filing. I myself would sign your Dad's name, followed by "by _______(your name) as POA/Executor.

If you need rock solid advice, and not guesswork, you will have to check with the accountant again. You pay for that advice, so stake advantage of it. Good luck, GG.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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graygrammie Aug 1, 2024
Have an email off to the accountant, no reply yet.

I also emailed my question to Delaware and had a personal answer within minutes.

"Address doesn't matter, just be sure the SSN is correct."
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I agree that PoA ends at death.

To be absolutely sure how you should sign, contact the IRS and ask them what you should do. I think it's possible to even email them your question if you don't have the luxury of sitting on hold for forever. They will send out a follow-up letter with a case number, so if you have any problems with it in the future you can refer back to what they themselves advised you.

You can file an extension if you need more time.
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Reply to Geaton777
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For the federal return at least, the IRS has a website on this (see below).

Short version: in a tiny variation on what MACinCT says, it is the “appointed representative” or failing that the spouse (for a joint return) or failing that the “personal representative“.

Quote: “Usually, the representative filing the final tax return is named in the person's will or appointed by a court. Sometimes when there isn't a surviving spouse or appointed representative, a personal representative will file the final return.”

More details on each of these in the website. They even specify how you should sign it.

(I don’t see anything one way or the other about POA, but this website at least makes me uncertain that POA would apply (it ended on death, and therefore not valid on the day you’re signing as others have mentioned, and it’s not court – appointed)). It seems like the most solid would be the executor.)

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/how-to-file-a-final-tax-return-for-someone-who-has-passed-away#:~:text=For%20paper%20returns%2C%20the%20filer,spouse%20must%20also%20sign%20it.
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Reply to Rumbletown
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graygrammie Aug 1, 2024
This isn't a final tax return. The return in 2024 will be the final one since dad passed in 2024.
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You become the "personal representative"
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Reply to MACinCT
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That's correct, GG.

Dad's 2023 tax return would cover from January 1 until the date of death. Say he died on 2/5/23; DAD'S tax return would cover the time of 1/1/23 - 2/5/23 - and for that period of time you were still POA; dad's ESTATE's tax return would cover 2/6/23 until 12/31/23 (or until such a time that the estate has been settled and all accounts paid and heirs receive whatever inheritence is left, if the estate was settled in 2023).

Your dad's accountant should have filed for a new tax ID number for the estate, that is what any future tax returns will be filed under. It will the responsibility of the executor/executrix to file those taxes; if that's you, then you would sign the estate tax return as the executrix.

Hope this helped!
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graygrammie Aug 1, 2024
This is not the final tax return. Dad died in 2024, this is the return for the 2023 tax year.
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In SC I signed personal representative after my name on behalf of my deceased mother. The terminology varies from state to state.

The accountant is getting paid I would assume. You should not worry about getting the answers you need. That is the nature of the job. You don't want to do something wrong. You would never sign POA after death.
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Reply to Riverdale
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GG, for the tax period you are signing for, you had a valid POA. I would trust what he told you and sign POA.

The processes required to deal with the government are why we hire professionals, they do the CE so we don't have to. ;-)

However, if you would feel better, do not hesitate to contact him to gain clarity for your own comfort. It is good to be diligent in this matters.
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Reply to Isthisrealyreal
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Wild guess here but if the accountant is aware that you are the executor as well as you were POA and he said to sign as POA I would guess that he would be correct.
But I am sure that if you call you will get a more accurate answer. And I am also sure that he has been or is being paid for his knowledge so 1 more phone call is not going to be a real bother. (it's not like you're calling in April)
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Reply to Grandma1954
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Riverdale Jul 31, 2024
I could be wrong with my answer previously posted. I just know I was always told POA becomes inactive after death. I suppose it could be valid for tax reasons. It is too bad poster doesn't feel more secure with dealing with accountant.
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