D-Day Guidance
Planning for the day of one’s death is often
avoided until it’s too late, causing unnecessary additional grief and anxiety for
survivors!
Downladable version here
D-Day Guidance
Planning for the Day of one’s
Demise(D-Day) is
often avoided until it’s too late, causing unnecessary additional grief and anxiety for
survivors!
For those who
have not prepared a Letter of Instruction (LOI)to address those issues
that are not addressed in such documents as Wills, General or Durable Power of Attorney, Instructions to Physician (aka a Living
Will), Revocable Trusts and associated Letter of Instructions (LOI); the following is a format for documenting the
types of issues and data that are recommended for inclusion in an LOI for your spouse and/or other heirs.
If you should decide to do
this, save this file to your “My Documents” folder (or wherever you save this kind of personal
information).
Or merely copy the outline
below, paste it as a new document, name it “LOI John and Jane Doe” or a name of your choosing, and date it in
the header so that you know when the last electronic update has been made.
In either case, you should
then begin adapting it as your LOI according to the instructions imbedded in the format, and show as much detail
as you determine would be useful in helping your spouse or other heirs put closure on your affairs.
Begin by adapting/filling
in the details and add or delete specifics as applicable to develop your personal LOI. You should sign and date
the LOI and place it in your D-Day (Day of Demise, or title of your choosing) Folder along with other important
documents such as your DD-214, last years tax returns, tax estimates for this year, and other applicable
documents as mentioned throughout the instructions below. Minor changes can then be done in pencil on a signed
hard copy until you decide to update the LOI. You should discard any previous LOIs when you update and print and
sign a new version of your LOI – which should be done at least annually.
Changes since the last
version posted at this website are shown in red in this February 2010 update.
Feel free to pass this on to
others who may be interested.
John Doe and Mary (nee
maiden name) Doe
LETTER OF
INSTRUCTION
John Doe: SSAN 123-45-6789
Mary (nee maiden name)
Doe: SSAN 987-65-4321
Address:
Home
Phone:
Cell Phone(s):
Living Children, addresses
and phone numbers:
a. x
b. x
The most current original
of this and related documents are located in a D-Day Folder, located in:
INDEX:
Section
A. Persons/Institutions to notify upon death.
B. Burial and Funeral Instructions.
C. Location of Important Papers.
D. Location of Safe Deposit Boxes
E. Memberships.
F. Life and Accident Insurance Policies.
G. Other Insurance Policies.
H. Insurance Information on Other Members.
I. Social Security Numbers.
J. Bank and Credit Union Accounts.
K. Bonds.
L. Shares of Stock, IRAs, and Financial Management Accounts.
M. Pension, Annuities, and Profit Sharing Plans.
N. Credit Cards.
O. Monetary Obligations.
P. Automobiles.
Q. Location of Personal Effects.
R. Matters Relating to House & Other Real Estate
Investments
S Rent or Leases.
T. Veteran Instructions.
U. Other Instructions.
V. Income Tax Filing Information.
A. Persons/Institutions to notify upon
death.
1. Persons to
notify:
a.
Immediately upon the death of John or Jane Doe:
(1) x
(2)
x
b. Upon the death of a Military retiree, also
notify:
(1) Defense Finance and Accounting Service
(DFAS)
U.S. Military Retirement Pay
(1-800-321-1080)
PO Box 7130 Report death to>
(1-800-269-5170)*
London,
KY 40742-7130
* Notify DFAS of John’s Death and initiate
actions to start the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Annuity for Jane if applicable. All of the paperwork associated
with this can be done at the “Casualty Assistance” office in bldg 21421 at Fort Huachuca. However, none of
the paperwork can be done until you have the death certificate in hand, and you must have John’s retirement
DD Form 214 (DD-214) “Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty” and latest Defense
Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) “Retiree Account Statement” (recommended but not essential )
with you when you go to the Casualty Assistance office. Both Located in D-Day
folder.
* Upon notification of a retiree’s death, DFAS
will take action to recoup retired pay for all of the month of death if the notification was received too late
to stop that deposit on the first business day following the month of death. They will take action to withdraw
this amount from the financial institution in which the payment was deposited. As part of the process for
reporting the death to DFAS, a form will be filled out to initiate action for DFAS to provide the retiree’s pay
to the survivor for the number of days the retiree lived during the month of death. This payment will be in the form of Department of Treasury check mailed to the
survivor or heir.
If Jane is entitled to SBP, her
SBP benefit will be effective the day following the
retiree’s death. It is estimated to be ($xxx) per month, 55% of John’s benefit at time of death. A TRICARE
Delta Dental Insurance premium (about $32/month and usually increases every year), if enrolled, will need to be deducted from that amount. Federal
Income Tax Withholding (FITW) & State Income Tax Withholdings (SITW) will be required to cover
SBP income plus any investment income for which no tax is withheld. It is estimated that will need to be about
$xxxx FITW per month and about $xxx SITW per month from her SBP annuity. This will have to be done
at the time she completes the forms to start SBP. For FITW, she will need to fill out an IRS Form W-4P
“Withholding Certificate for Pensions or Annuity Payments” (blank copy in D-Day folder) showing Marital
status as Single with “O” Allowances plus an additional $xxx (as may be necessary) per month withholding. For
SITW, if they will not let you designate a flat $xxx per month withholding she will need to complete an
Arizona Form A-4P (copy in D-Day folder) and check 15% if that is an option, or the next higher
percentage. This FITW and SITW and additional Social Security FITW (see Social Security Widow’s benefit below
for additional FITW that will be needed) are estimated to be sufficient for John’s year of death (when Jane can
still file as married) and the following year in which Jane will have to file as single.
(2) TRICARE Retiree
Delta Dental of California Program (if enrolled) Group No: 0004601, Subgroup No: 0004. Place a sample EOB in D-Day Folder.
1-888-838-8737*
*Notify date of death regarding John’s participation. Stop John’s
participation and billing to DFAS retired Pay. Arrange for continuation of the TRICARE Retiree Dental Program
(TRDP) plan for Jane and billing to her SBP Annuity from DFAS if it can’t be done as noted above during the
processing of her application for SBP.
(3)
Social Security Administration (1-800-772-1213 or
601 East Twelfth
Street 1-800-537-7005)*
Kansas City,
MO 64106-2859
or
Social Security (520)
364-1241
520
12TH Street
Douglas,
AZ 85607
*Funeral Home may
take care of all or part of this. If not, notify
Social Security Administration (SSA) of John’s Death Regarding John’s Claim No. 123-45-6789A (John’s SSAN).
John’s benefit stops at the beginning of the month of his death.
If Jane’s Social Security benefits have been based upon John’s earnings because half of his benefit
was more than a full benefit based upon her earnings, she will have been receiving benefits equal to one half of John’s earnings under Claim No. 123-45-6789B (John’s SSAN). Her new benefit will be what John had been receiving and will
become effective on the first day of the month of John’s death. Jane’s Social Security (SS) claim number and
Medicare (MC) claim numbers will both change from 123-45-6789B (spouse entitled to SS & MC under husband’s
earnings) to 123-45-6789D (widow entitled to SS & MC based upon husband’s earnings). That does not change
her Social Security number, which will always be 987-65-4321. It only changes the benefits claim
number.
If the Social Security benefits that Jane has been receiving, based upon her own earnings under
her Claim No. 987-65-4321A, are less than what John’s benefits were at the time of his death, she will begin
receiving the amount that he had been receiving and her claim number will be changed to 123-45-6789D (widow
entitled to SS & MC based upon husband’s earnings).
Copies of the latest Social Security Administration “Your New Benefit
Amount” statements and Social Security Cards for both John & Jane should be located in the D-Day
Folder. There is no good reason, or requirement to carry Social Security cards in a wallet or
purse
If
death occurs near the end of a month, it may be too late to stop automatic deposit of respective old benefits,
in which case SSA will advise how they will reconcile differences which may require some repayment by Jane after
crediting the $250 SSA Death Benefit that she will be entitled to that will be applied to the reconciliation.
If her new benefit is based upon John’s earnings, her new benefit should be 100% of John’s benefit at the time of his death,
estimated to be about $xxxx beginning 1 Jan next year minus Medicare Part-B cost and Federal Income Tax
Withholding (FITW). The amount of FITW that will need to be withhold from her Social Security income is
estimated to be about $xxx per month (in addition to the $xxxx FITW per month that will need to be withheld from
her Military SBP). A $xxx FITW will be needed from Jane’s Social Security
benefit.
While the total of $xxxx FITW from SBP plus $xxx FITW from Social Security widow’s benefit per
month and $xxx SITW from SBP per month may appear high, it will be needed to cover existing investment and other
potential income that has no FITW or SITW withholding.
(4) Other Retirement or Annuity
Plans:
(5) Veterans
Administration
520)
378-0531
Sierra Vista,
AZ 85650
Take a copy of John’s DD-214,
Death Certificate, and a Current annual Dept of Veterans Affairs “Annual Insurance Policy Statement”
(VA Form 29-0258 for instance if you should have a NSLI insurance policy), located in the D-Day folder,
to a Veterans Benefits Counselor (VBC) at the
Southern Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery or a Veteran Service Organization
(VFW, Legion, DAV, etc.) Service Officer. If applicable to your situation,
this documents show that John has been having premiums of for example $13.20/mo deducted from his retired pay
for a $5,000 Government Life Insurance Policy (the VA form 29-0258 shows the annual status on John’s National
Service Life Insurance {NSLI}, policy Number V 1234 56 78 even though the NSLI terminology does not appear on
the Annual Insurance Policy Statement). The VBC or Service Officer will provide the necessary forms to apply for cashing in the policy and claiming
a burial allowance, and will fax the applications to VA and provide you a copy of the application. VA Form
29-0258 is located in D-Day folder. See Para. F. below
also.
(5) Notify the following
Business Associates as follows:
(6) Notify Other Persons as
follows:
A. (cont’d)Persons/Institutions to notify upon death.
1. Persons to
notify:
C. Upon the death of Jane, in case John is
incapacitated, notify:
(1) Social Security
Administration (1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-537-7005*)
601 East Twelfth
Street
Kansas City,
MO 64106-2859
or
Social Security (520) 364- 1241
520
12TH Street
Douglas,
AZ 85607
*Funeral Home may take care of all or part of this.
Notify Date of Death Regarding: Jane’s claim number 987-65-4321A if she has been receiving benefits based upon
her earning, or under Jane’s claim No. 123-45-6789B if she had been receiving benefits based upon John’s
earnings, to initiate action to stop Jane’s benefits.
(2) Delta Dental Plan of
California (TRICARE Retiree Dental Program, if enrolled) See TRICARE Dental EOB in
D-Day Folder.
1-888-838-8737
Notify date of death
regarding Jane’s participation. Stop the participation and billing of Jane’s monthly premiums to John’s DFAS
retired Pay. Arrange continuation of plan for John (if enrolled)
and continue billing to his Retired Pay from DFAS.
(3)
(4)
2. Church: xx
3. Funeral Home: xx
4. Relatives: (if not addressed above)
5. Accountant: xx
6. Employer: xx
7. Lawyer: xx
8. Business Associates: xx
9. Other Persons. xx
B. Burial and Funeral Instructions.
Take your D-Day Folder with
you to the Funeral home.
1. Cemetery plot location. Desire Crematorium Vault at
Southern Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery adjacent to Fort Huachuca/Sierra Vista, AZ. Entrance
located on Buffalo Soldier Trail at Golflinks Road. Arrangements can be made through the funeral director, with
DD 214 in hand.
2. Facts needed by funeral
director:
For John Doe
DOB:
Place of Birth
(POB):
Spouse: Jane (maiden name)
Doe
Married:
a. Father's Name: DOB:
POB:
Deceased:
Place of Burial:
Military Service:
b. Mother's Name: DOB: POB:
Deceased:
Place of Burial
Military
Service:
c. Military Service (John):
Date
Enlisted USAF: John has an
indefinite expiration date Military ID card.
Foreign
Service:
Date
Commissioned (OCS) 2/Lt USAF:
Foreign
Service:
Foreign
Service:
Promoted to Col/USAF:
w/DOR
Retired
at: Effective:
Retired
in the grade of Colonel (USAF) under
Department of the Air Force Special Order Number:
dated: with 38 Years,
11 Months, and 9 Days of Active Service for Pay and Retirement, and with Service per 10 USC
1405.
SSAN
and final Military Serial Number:
123-45-6789
Other
Military Serial Numbers:
Enlisted/USAF:
AF23456789 (22 Jul 1948-21 Jun 1957)
Commissioned/USAF:
AO3456789 21 Jun 1957 (Reserve
Appt)
56789A 26 Apr 1960 (Regular
Appt)
FR56789 (21 Jun 64)
123456789FR (10 Oct 69)
Awards and Decorations:
d. Length of residence in the United States: Whole Life, except for dates of
Military foreign service (above).
e.
Length of time residing in Arizona: Jan 1980 to Oct 1984. Established Arizona residency 1 July
1987.
f. Social Security Number:
123-45-6789
g. Occupation: Electrical Engineer.
h. Special Wishes and Desires: Donate usable organs, and remains to be
cremated.
For JANE(maiden name) DOE
DOB:
POB:
Spouse: John
Doe
Married:
Military ID card needs to
be renewed to an indefinite expiration date if over age 75 before current card expires, and it must also be
reissued at the time of John’s death.
a. Father's Name:
DOB:
POB:
Deceased:
Buried:
Military Service:
b. Mother's Name:
DOB:
POB:
Deceased:
Buried:
Military Service:
c. Length of residence in the
United States: Whole Life, except when accompanying John on assignments to: e.g., Timbuktu 1968-1970,
Turkistan 1974-1975, etc.
d. Length of time residing in
Arizona:
e. Established
Arizona residency:
f. Social Security Number:
987-65-4321
g. Occupation: Domestic
engineer
h. Special Wishes and Desires:
e.g., Remains to be cremated.
3. Words to be inscribed on Grave Marker or Crematory Vault
door:
For
John:
John
Doe
Colonel, USAF
(Retired)
22 Jul 1948
– 30 Jun 1987
b. 3 Feb 1930 -
d.
For Jane:
JANE (Maiden name)
DOE
Faithful and Loving Wife and
Mother
b. 3 Feb 1925 - d.
4. Disposition of remains: Inter cremains at Southern Arizona
Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery (adjacent to Fort Huachuca/Sierra Vista,
AZ)
C. Location of Important Documents, as
applicable:
1. Declaration of Trust and Amendments -
2. Wills –
3. General Durable Power of Attorney
–
4. Health Care Durable Power of Attorney -
5. Instructions to Physician (aka Living Will) -
6. Letter of Instructions (this document)-
7. Insurance Policies -
8. Bankbooks –
9. Checkbooks –
10. Certificates of Deposit (CDs)
-
11. Stock Certificates –
12. Bonds -
13. Social Security Cards and “Your New Benefit Amount”
statements: (received in late Dec or early Jan every year)
14. Medicare Cards: -
Note: Jane’s original Medicare card (issued on
2-1-90 was under her Social Security number with an ‘M’ suffix: 987-65-4321M. Her current Medicare card
(issued in 1995 when John turned 65) is under John’s Social Security with a ‘B’ suffix: 123-45-6789B. Current
Medicare cards are in Safe Deposit Box #_____ (or in D-Day Folder as applicable).
15. Automobile titles and registration
documents:
a. Titles:
-
b. Registrations: Located in
vehicles.
16. Titles, deeds, and other relevant papers relating to real
property -
17. Birth and Baptism Certificates – D-Day
Folder
18. Marriage Certificate – D-Day
Folder
19. Divorce Decree(s) -
20. Military Records – D-Day Folder and
-
21. Naturalization Papers or Alien Registration Card -
22. Income Tax Returns – (latest should be in D-Day
Folder)
23. Credit Cards - Wallets/purse, and in
-
24. Mortgage and other outstanding loans -
25. Bank Statements and cancelled checks
–
26. Important Warranties –
27. Important receipts, such as receipts for home
improvements that add to basis for home investment -
28. Other Legal papers:
a. Adoption Papers -
b. Death Certificate –
For:
c.
29. x
30. x
D. Location of Safe Deposit Box(s) (# ).
1. Location:
2. Registered in the name(s):
Upon John’s death you need to verify that any alternate is
still shown on the records and show here:
4. Keys are located:
5. List of contents by envelope #, e.g. in Box
No._____:
#1.
U.S. Savings Bonds
#2.
Automobile Titles
#3.
Personal Liability Ins. Policy#
#4.
Home Owners Ins. Policy#
#5.
Property Deeds (list them)
#6.
Birth Certificates – (List names :)
#7.
College/University Transcripts
#8.
Marriage License
#9.
Adoption Papers if applicable
#10.
Divorce Papers if applicable
#11.
VA Form 4-1870 (Home Loan Eligibility dated)
#12.
AF Form 806 (Election of Options under Uniformed Services Contingency Option
Act)
#13.
Households Goods Inventory (w/color photos and slides)
#14.
Military Orders (assignments, promotions etc.)
#15.
#16.
6. List of contents by envelope #, e.g. in Box
No._____:
#a.
E. Memberships. (For example)
1.
Non-Commissioned Officers Association
(NCOA), Life Mbr (# ).
2.
Air Force Association (AFA), Life Mbr (#
).
3.
University Alumni Association, (Class of
1968), Life Mbr (# ).
4. National War
College Alumni Association, (Class of 1978) Life Mbr (#
).
5.
Military Officers Association of
America (MOAA), Life Mbr (# ).
6.
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Life Mbr (#
)
7.
American Association of Retired Persons
(AARP), Mbr (#) paid to:
8.
American Legion Post 52, Mbr (# ) paid
to:
9.
Association of Old Crows (AOC), (Mbr #
)paid to:
10. Sons of the American Revolution (National Number: ) paid
to:
11. etc.
F. Life and Accidental Death Insurance
Policies.
(Policies in Safe Deposit box and: (Env. #)
1.
National Service Life Insurance
(NSLI) (John)
Veterans Administration Insurance Center
Department of Veterans Affairs
(1-800-669-8477)
P. O. Box 8079 or
42954
Philadelphia,
PA 19101-2954
Env.
#____ Safe deposit box. Term Policy # F234567 (reduced to $5000 in 1990)
($13.20 Monthly premium
deducted from DFAS Retired Pay) See Para. A.1.a.(4) above for instructions on filing a claim for this
insurance.
2.
Military Association policies (John)
a.
x
b.
x
3.
Other Life Insurance policies
(John)
a.
x
b.
x
4. Cancelled Policies, as applicable (John)
Cancelled effective 1 Feb 2006, for the record
to preclude any questions if an old policy is found in a file.
5. Military Association policies (Jane)
a.
x
b.
b
6. Other Life Insurance policies
(Jane)
a.
x
b.
x
7. Cancelled Policies, as applicable (Jane)
Cancelled effective 1 Feb 2006, for the record
to preclude any questions if an old policy is found in a file.
8. Accidental Death and
Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance, and some free Life Insurance. Located in the following numbered (#)
envelopes in the ____________ and ___________:
# . Allstate Insurance Co. AD 1-800-736-2242)
# . Air Force Association
AD (John $500 -Free)
# . WWW Credit Union
AD (john $1000 and Jane $500 -Free if acct balance is greater than
$500)
# . XXX FCU) AD&D
# . YYY FCU
AD
# . ZZZ Bank
AD
# . Legionnaire Insurance Trust
AD
# .
etc
9. x
G. Other Insurance Policies.
1. Homeowner's Policy & Liability Insurance: (Billed in
April)
Armed Forces Insurance Exchange
(1-800-255-6792)
P.O. Box G
(913) 651-5100)
Fort Leavenworth,
KS 66027-0428
Policy Number 123456 (Envelopes 10, 11, & 12 in SDB, and
in
2. Automobile Insurance Policy: (Billed in Mar &
Sep)
United Services Automobile
Association
9800 Fredericksburg
Road
(1-800-531-8111)
San Antonio,
TX 78288-001
Policy
Number 012 34 56 in Cars & in -
3. Long Term Care (LTC):
H. Insurance Information on Other Family
Members.
1.
I. Social Security Numbers. John & Jane started drawing SS
benefits in Mar 2000
John Doe
123-45-6789 (Medicare #
123-45-6789A)
Jane (maiden name) Doe 987-65-4321 (Medicare Part B and Social Security Benefits are under
123-45-6789B, if Applicable)
(Call 1-800-537-7005 for information on filing claims, and
notification of death, and see details above)
J. Bank
Accounts.
1. Checking/Savings Accounts & Certificates of
Deposit
(Statements located
in:
and with IRS records
in:
a. XXX Bank
Address:
Local Phone
number:
Corporate
Number:
Safe Deposit Box
#
Primary
Owner:
Joint Owner:
b. YYY Bank
Address:
Local Phone
number:
Corporate
Number:
Safe Deposit Box
#
Primary
Owner:
Joint Owner:
e.
2. Credit Unions/Federal Credit Unions
(FCUs)
(Statements located
in:
and with IRS records
in:
a. XXX FCU
Address:
Local Phone
number:
Corporate
Number:
Safe Deposit Box
#
Primary
Owner:
Joint Owner:
b. YYY FCU
Address:
Local Phone
number:
Corporate
Number:
Safe Deposit Box
#
Primary
Owner:
Joint Owner:
c.
ZZZ FCU
Account # Closed Dec 2008,
for the record
d. x
e. x
3. X
K. Bonds.
U.S.Savings Bonds Issued in the
name:
Beneficiary:
(Value of these bonds in excess of $xx,xxx may be taxable
when cashed in by the beneficiary).
These will mature incrementally (will no longer accrue
dividends) between and if they are not
cashed in before then (Located in Safe Deposit Box).
L. Shares of Stock, IRAs, and Financial Management
Accounts.
1. (Financial Management Institution) Include addresses and
Phone numbers and location of documents:
a.
x
b. x
2.
x. .
3.
Roth and/or Traditional IRAs: Statements located in:
See www.irs.gov IRS
Pub 590 if any questions arise when rolling over John’s IRAs to an IRA in Jane’s
name.
JOHN - XXX Federal Credit Union (and details)
JANE - YYY Federal Credit Union
(and details)
4.
x
5.
x
M. Pension, Annuities, and Profit Sharing
Plans.
1. Military Retirement:(1-800-321-1080) or
(1-216-522-5955)
Defense Finance and Accounting Service
(DFAS)
US
Military Retirement Pay
PO
Box 7130
London,
KY 40742-7130
SSAN 123-45-6789 (Monthly
check to XXX Bank Checking Account)
Notify DFAS ASAP (see Para A.1.b.{1} above) with Date of Death, and to initiate start of Survivor
Benefit Plan (SBP) for Jane.
Military allotments for Insurance policies need to be cancelled with DFAS (shown on back of annual
Retiree Account Statement) upon filing claims for insurance payments upon John’s Demise.
2. Pensions:
a.
x
b.
x
c.
x
3. ANNUITIES:
a. x.
b. x
c. x
4. SOCIAL SECURITY:
a.
John – Direct deposit to xxx Bank Ckg
Acct
b.
Jane – Direct deposit yyy Bank Ckg. Acct.
Jane’s new benefit should continue to be deposited in the yyy Bank Account upon John’s
demise.
N.Credit Cards.
Cards are in wallets/purse and as shown below:
1. Master card #______________ located
in
Call
________________________ to close out/cancel.
2. Visa Card #______________ located in
Call
________________________ to close out/cancel.
3. Discover Card # __________ located in
Call
________________________ to close out/cancel.
4. x
5. x
O. Monetary
Obligations:
a. x
b. x
P.Automobiles.
They are titled as:
Titles are in Safe Deposit Box.
a. 1995 Oldsmobile 98 (Metallic
Bronze)
VIN
_________________ Lic AZ #ABC
123
(License renewal due Apr
2010)
c.
1987 Chevrolet S-10 Blazer (Metallic
Bronze)
VIN
__________________ Lic AZ #DEF
456
(License renewal due Jun 2010)
d.
X
Q. Location of Personal
Effects.
All located at:
R. Matters Relating to House & Other Real Estate
Investments.
1. Residence:
2. Other Recorded Property:
S. Rentals or
Leases:
T. Veteran Instructions. See Section A for Military retired pay/Survivor
Benefit Plan (SBP) details, Section B for Military Service and Veterans Cemetery burial details, and
Section F for National Service Life Insurance (NSLI) Life Insurance Policy.
U. Other Instructions.
a. x
b. x
V. Income Tax Filing
Information.
a.
A copy of the latest Federal Tax
Return and State Tax Return are included in the D-Day file, along with a version that shows
estimates for preparing joint federal and state tax returns for the current year.
The latter can be done by completing a Federal Form 1040-ES “Estimated Tax for
Individuals”, down loadable at the www.irs.gov website.
It is even more useful to a survivor if you fill out a complete set of tax forms (down
loadable from the www.irs.gov website) that were
used for your last tax return with estimated figures for the current year to develop an estimate for filing a
joint tax return for the year of death of a spouse, which is permitted.
It is recommended that this
be done as soon as practical after filing your most recent tax return, while all of the details are fresh in
your memory. You can do this with last years forms, as next years forms will not be available until later in the
year. For example, line through 2009 on the
forms and enter 2010 so that it is clear
what this set of forms are for. This can also be done for your estimated State Tax Return by down loading the
applicable forms from the http://www.revenue.state.az.us/ website. If you do all of this in pencil, it
will be easy to update the estimates as you get closer to the end of the year. If FITW and SITW are being withheld from all or most sources of income
(including interest and dividends on major investments), the estimate for the current year will potentially work
out close to what the survivor, who will be able to file as his/her a joint return for the year the spouse
dies, will be required to file. See Section A.1.c above if additional FITW and
SITW are required
It is further recommended
that you follow this same process to prepare a set of Tax Return forms that estimate what the survivor’s income
and tax liability will be for the year following the death of a spouse. For example use a set of last years
forms (2009) to estimate the survivors tax liability filing as a single taxpayer for 2011 income, as
would be required if the spouse died any time in 2010.
b.
Last Years annual or end of year DFAS,
Social Security, Pension/Annuity, and Financial Institution statements, and related Form 1099s are
located in:
c.
The evolving year Financial Institution
statements are located in:
d. Form 1099s, that will be received in Jan of next year, need to be assembled with the above referenced
Financial Institution statement for use in preparing yours or your survivor’s tax return for this year.
END OF
INSTRUCTIONS
(signature)
(signature)
John Doe Jane (maiden name)
Doe
Date
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