Filing on Behalf of Someone Else

In order to file a tax return on behalf of someone else, we need certain items. The following is a list of the items we need:

 

Start Here

IRS requires that we obtain certain information for each client.  This section will help you and us ensure we are meeting those requirements. 

If you are filing taxes on behalf of a deceased individual, then please follow the steps listed on this page to ensure you have accurate documentation.

Note: If your spouse passed away, normally the surviving spouse takes care of all the tax information. However, if there is a court appointed representative that is not the surviving spouse, then only that court appointed representative can sign a tax return for the deceased. If that is the case, please use this section. If that is not the case, go back to the previous screen and fill out your taxes on the client page for either returning or new clients.

Step 1

Please only complete this form if the person you are filing a tax return for is deceased.

Information Sheet – Filing for a Deceased Individual

Step 2

Please complete the following forms:

HHTS Engagement and Fee Agreement

Individual Client Questionnarie

Consent to Release Information Form (unless we have a Forever Release Form on file) – This form is required for us to respond via email or fax. Additionally, we need a new consent form for each third party you would like information released to.

Step 3

If they were or are a minister, you will need to complete the Minister’s Deduction Worksheet listed below.

Minister’s Income & Deduction Worksheet

Step 4

Any and all 1099’s Forms, W2 Forms, Form 1098 Mortgage Statements, and any form that says “tax document.”

If we did not prepare the deceased tax return last year and they filed one, we need, if possible, a complete copy of last year’s Federal and State Tax Return. In certain circumstances for those who filed, it is required.

Step 5

If they have or had a business, farm, or rental property please click here for additional forms. 

Step 6

If deceased, we need:

• Your Court Qualification Letter or Small Estate Affidavit

• A copy of the Will, if they had one.

• An original Death Certificate (we will return the original Death Certificate once we scan it)

PDF Forms: If you would like to digitally send us your information, we only take PDF format files. We prefer PDF files that have been originally scanned and saved as PDFs, meaning not converted to a PDF from a picture file. If you have a smartphone or an all-in-one printer, scanner, & copier, the apps or scanner software often times take a picture then convert it to a PDF. When it converts it to a PDF from a picture, in most cases, we cannot print out your information nor will IRS accept that format. If at all possible, please scan them into a computer and save them as a PDF to your desktop rather than a smartphone.

Tax Portal: We have a portal option where you information can be stored all in one place. We can get information from you and securely put information into your portal for you. It is the best and most secure way of sharing information with each other. Each client needs to have their own email in order to use the portal. Another words, if you have a corporation and an individual return, you will need 2 emails in order to get a portal for each account. We do not suggest or encourage using e-mail, but instead using our portal to share information with us and get information from us.

More than 5 PDF Documents: If you need to send more than 5 PDF documents for your taxes, we have to put your documents in a holding bin until someone can merge them. It will speed up the processing of your return if you merge them into 5 or fewer documents before sending them to us. Sending more than 5 documents will slow down the processing of your taxes. Due to that fact, we ask you to merge them into one or two files. See how to merge files below.

How to Merge Files: On a computer, open one of the files in your PDF viewer and go to “insert file” and select it. The PDF app will ask you what you want to insert, then select the various pages you want to insert and insert them into the file you have open. Just hit save once you are completed or you will lose everything you inserted.