Ian Bryzek, CPA
How do you keep date-of-death and alternate-value files distinct?
Mixing values from two dates in one unmarked spreadsheet is one of the fastest ways to create an unreliable estate-tax file.
Each asset needs a clear column for each date considered, plus notes for sales and distributions in between.
Residential appraisals should state the effective date they support; do not reuse a report for a different date without appropriate valuation work.
What to keep with the file
Residential appraisals should state the effective date they support; do not reuse a report for a different date without appropriate valuation work.
What to do next
Use separate tabs or folders for each valuation date from the first draft onward.
What to gather
- Side-by-side value schedule by date
- Appraisals labeled with effective dates
- Sale and distribution log between dates
- Custodian statements for each date
- Draft election notes kept separate from final values
Who usually handles what
- Ian can organize the tax reporting question and the supporting records.
- James Valdez can provide an independent residential fair-market-value appraisal when a supported property value is part of the documentation.
- The executor, trustee, or account custodian supplies records and confirms who has authority to act.
A practical next step
Use separate tabs or folders for each valuation date from the first draft onward.
When a property value is part of the picture
When residential real estate needs a supported fair market value as of a relevant date, an independent appraiser may be part of the documentation process. Ian does not determine fair market value.
Related guides
- Step up in basis after death
- What records does a cpa need after a death
- Basis when property is sold after death
This is general tax information, not tax or legal advice. Outcomes depend on the documents, ownership, timing, and law that apply to the particular facts.