How Do I File Taxes for a Deceased Person in Kansas?

Find out which tax returns you need to file after someone dies. See state-specific forms, deadlines, and whether tax clearance is required.

More than the returns? Settle the estate in one place.

State

Approximate Estate Value

Estate earns income

Interest, dividends, rent, or other income received after date of death

Kansas Tax Filing Checklist

2 filings required

0 of 2 completed0%

Federal

File final income tax return

A final federal income tax return is required for income earned from January 1 through the date of death.

Form: IRS Form 1040

Deadline: April 15 following year of death

Write "DECEASED," the decedent's name, and the date of death across the top of the return. If filing jointly with a surviving spouse, include both incomes. Attach Form 1310 to claim a refund, unless you are the surviving spouse filing a joint return or a court-appointed personal representative attaching a copy of the court certificate to the original return.

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File estate income tax returnNot required

IRS Form 1041 is only required if the estate earns $600 in gross income or more during administration.

File estate tax returnNot required

The estate value ($0) is below the federal exemption of $15,000,000. IRS Form 706 is generally not required.

Kansas

File final income tax return

A final state return is required for income earned through the date of death.

Form: K-40

Deadline: April 15 following year of death

Mark the "deceased taxpayer" box below the K-40 heading and include the decedent's Social Security number. A return is required for the taxpayer who died during the calendar year; if a joint federal return is filed, a joint Kansas return must also be filed. The executor/executrix signs; on a joint return the surviving spouse writes "Deceased" and the date of death on the decedent's signature line. Refund documentation: a surviving spouse claiming $100 or less encloses any ONE of Federal Form 1310, a death certificate, an obituary statement, a funeral home notice, Letters Testamentary, or Form RF-9. A surviving spouse claiming OVER $100 — or anyone other than the surviving spouse claiming any amount — must enclose BOTH proof of death AND Form RF-9 (Decedent Refund Claim). Source: 2025 Kansas Individual Income Tax Booklet, "Deceased Taxpayers."

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File estate income tax returnNot required

A fiduciary return is only required if the estate earns income above the filing threshold (Resident estate or trust: any taxable income, OR withholding tax due for nonresident beneficiaries. A resident estate is the estate of a person who was a Kansas resident at the time of death; a resident trust is one administered by the trustee in Kansas. Nonresident estates/trusts file on Kansas-source income. (2025 K-41 instructions, "Who Must File a Return"; K.S.A. 79-3220(c).)).

Tax Clearance Not Required

No estate or inheritance tax clearance required. A general Certificate of Tax Clearance is available from the Kansas Department of Revenue but is not a prerequisite to probate distribution.

More Information

This tool provides general information about tax filing requirements after death. Tax situations vary based on individual circumstances. Consult a licensed tax professional or CPA for advice specific to your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

At minimum, a final federal income tax return (Form 1040) and a final Kansas income tax return (K-40) must be filed for income earned through the date of death. If the estate earns income during administration, a federal fiduciary return (Form 1041) and Kansas fiduciary return (K-41) may also be required.

The final federal and Kansas income tax returns are due april 15 following year of death. The fiduciary return is due april 15 (calendar-year filers).

No. No estate or inheritance tax clearance required. A general Certificate of Tax Clearance is available from the Kansas Department of Revenue but is not a prerequisite to probate distribution. All tax obligations must be satisfied before making final distributions.

Yes. Estate size does not affect the requirement to file a final income tax return. A final Form 1040 is required regardless of estate value if the deceased had income. What smaller estates typically avoid is the federal estate tax return (Form 706).

The executor named in the will (or the court-appointed administrator) is responsible for filing the final income tax return and any estate tax returns. If the deceased was married, the surviving spouse can file a joint federal return for the year of death. For trust assets, the successor trustee handles fiduciary tax returns. The Kansas estate settlement plan covers all filing responsibilities in order.

No. Kansas does not impose a state estate tax or inheritance tax. The primary tax filings after death are income tax related (final return and, if applicable, estate income tax return). See how Kansas compares with the death tax calculator.

Tax Filing After Death in Kansas

Tax obligations in Kansas include filing the deceased's final state and federal income tax returns. If the estate generates income (interest, dividends, rent) before distribution, a fiduciary return is also required. A federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above the federal exemption of $15,000,000.

Kansas does not impose a state estate tax or inheritance tax. The primary post-death tax obligations are income tax related — the final return and any fiduciary returns needed during estate administration.

Missing tax deadlines can result in penalties and interest that reduce the estate's value. The estate settlement plan for Kansas includes all filing dates so nothing is overlooked.