Ian Bryzek, CPA
What records belong in a Form 706 file?
A Form 706 file is only as strong as the schedules and source documents behind each line.
Executors sometimes collect a death certificate and a few statements, then discover the estate-tax preparer needs appraisals, prior gifts, life-insurance forms, and debt proof.
Organizing records by schedule—assets, deductions, credits, and prior transfers—makes review faster and reduces last-minute reconstruction.
What to keep with the file
Organizing records by schedule—assets, deductions, credits, and prior transfers—makes review faster and reduces last-minute reconstruction.
What to do next
Create a schedule-by-schedule checklist and mark every missing source document.
What to gather
- Complete asset schedules with values and ownership
- Appraisals and valuation workpapers
- Prior Forms 709 and gift history
- Debt, mortgage, and expense documentation
- Life-insurance and beneficiary statements
Who usually handles what
- Ian can organize the tax reporting question and the supporting records.
- The executor, trustee, or account custodian supplies records and confirms who has authority to act.
A practical next step
Create a schedule-by-schedule checklist and mark every missing source document.
Related guides
- What records does a cpa need after a death
- Step up in basis after death
- Records needed to establish basis
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.