Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Discharge of Fiduciary from Personal Liability?
Requires a written application to the Secretary for determination of the tax amount. Also provides discharge for good faith reliance on gift tax returns for gifts made more than 3 years before death.
How does the Discharge of Fiduciary from Personal Liability work?
Allows an executor or fiduciary to apply for a determination of the estate tax amount and be discharged from personal liability for any future deficiencies upon payment of that amount.
What law authorizes the Discharge of Fiduciary from Personal Liability?
The Discharge of Fiduciary from Personal Liability is authorized under IRC §2204 of the Internal Revenue Code (Title 26, United States Code).
Statutory Text — IRC §2204
Source: Internal Revenue Code, Title 26, United States Code
§ 2204. Discharge of fiduciary from personal liability(a) General ruleIf the executor makes written application to the Secretary for determination of the amount of the tax and discharge from personal liability therefor, the Secretary (as soon as possible, and in any event within 9 months after the making of such application, or, if the application is made before the return is filed, then within 9 months after the return is filed, but not after the expiration of the period prescribed for the assessment of the tax in section 6501) shall notify the executor of the amount of the tax. The executor, on payment of the amount of which he is notified (other than any amount the time for payment of which is extended under sections 6161, 6163, or 6166), and on furnishing any bond which may be required for any amount for which the time for payment is extended, shall be discharged from personal liability for any deficiency in tax thereafter found to be due and shall be entitled to a receipt or writing showing such discharge.
(b) Fiduciary other than the executorIf a fiduciary (not including a fiduciary in respect of the estate of a nonresident decedent) other than the executor makes written application to the Secretary for determination of the amount of any estate tax for which the fiduciary may be personally liable, and for discharge from personal liability therefor, the Secretary upon the discharge of the executor from personal liability under subsection (a), or upon the expiration of 6 months after the making of such application by the fiduciary, if later, shall notify the fiduciary (1) of the amount of such tax for which it has been determined the fiduciary is liable, or (2) that it has been determined that the fiduciary is not liable for any such tax. Such application shall be accompanied by a copy of the instrument, if any, under which such fiduciary is acting, a description of the property held by the fiduciary, and such other information for purposes of carrying out the provisions of this section as the Secretary may require by regulations. On payment of the amount of such tax for which it has been determined the fiduciary is liable (other than any amount the time for payment of which has been extended under section 6161, 6163, or 6166), and on furnishing any bond which may be required for any amount for which the time for payment has been extended, or on receipt by him of notification of a determination that he is not liable for any such tax, the fiduciary shall be discharged from personal liability for any deficiency in such tax thereafter found to be due and shall be entitled to a receipt or writing evidencing such discharge.
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