E-File for deceased tax payer

[RichardS77]

I'm trying to file a final return for a deceased taxpayer. The signer is the authorized representative and the system won't allow an e-file in this case and requires a paper filing.  The IRS is backed up due to COVID 19 which will cause major delay in receiving the refund.   Is there a work around to allow this file to be filed electronically.

[Just-Lisa-Now-]

Seems like when its a court ordered representative, it doesn't allow Efiling...I dont know why this makes a difference.

[sjrcpa]

No

[Camp1040]

You also have to submit the court form with the paper return approving the appointment of the representative.

[BobKamman · Accepted solution]

@RichardS77 The IRS is backed up due to COVID 19 which will cause major delay in receiving the refund.

For the Chicken Little crowd, here is some recent information on the IRS backlog from a July 11 newspaper report:

"As of May 16, the agency had an estimated backlog of 4.7 million paper returns.  Working through the paper returns is a “high priority” for the I.R.S., its commissioner, Charles P. Rettig, recently told the Senate Finance Committee. The agency is reducing the backlog by about one million a week."

So maybe there are three or four more weeks left to resolve the backlog.   Is that a "major delay" ?  Or is waiting until July 14 to finish the return, a bigger cause for concern?