Your first taxation obligation as an Executor is to advise the Australian Taxation Office of their passing. You can do this by completing an online form on their website.

Part of your executor responsibilities is getting the deceased's personal individual taxation affairs up to date. This includes all outstanding obligations, we recently completed fifteen (15) years of outstanding returns for an executor!

It is far easier now that the ATO is notified electronically of income details. It can be difficult when investments are involved, especially determining the cost of acquiring investments. The best place to start will be the deceased person's accountant, they should have historical information.

If the deceased person had significant assets, you might have to create a Deceased Estate Trust, which is a new entity. You will need to apply for a new tax file for the Deceased Estate. For the first three years after death, the Deceased Estate Trust is taxed as an individual.

In the financial year of the person's death, you will potentially need to complete two tax returns. Their final personal return, for income up to their date of death. From their date of death until the end of the financial year, you will need to complete the Deceased Estate Trust tax return.