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

Kansas requires a final state income tax return for the decedent alongside the federal Form 1040; a federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above $15,000,000.

State

Approximate Estate Value

Estate Earns Income

YesNo

Date of Death

Two returns are due.

IRS Form 1040 and K-40.

Federal

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
Due: 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.

IRS Form 1040 File online

Kansas

Final income tax return

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

Form: K-40
Due: 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.

K-40 File online

Tax clearance

No tax clearance is required in Kansas

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.

Kansas tax clearance

Not required

Federal estate income tax return: IRS Form 1041 is only required if the estate earns $600 in gross income or more during administration.
Federal estate tax return: The estate value ($0) is below the federal exemption of $15,000,000. IRS Form 706 is generally not required.
Kansas estate income tax return: 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).)).

General information about tax filing requirements after a death, not tax or legal advice. Consult a licensed tax professional for tax questions. Data verified Sep 15, 2026

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

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

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. Every tax obligation is still settled before the final distribution.

No. Kansas imposes no state estate tax and no inheritance tax. The tax filings after a death are the income tax returns (the final return and, where the estate earns income, the estate income tax return). Only the federal estate tax applies, and only to an estate above $15,000,000.

Yes. Estate size does not change the final income tax return: a final Form 1040 is filed whatever the estate is worth if the decedent had income. What a smaller estate avoids is the federal estate tax return (Form 706), due 9 months after date of death (6-month extension available) and required only above $15,000,000.

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 final Kansas income tax return is due April 15 following year of death. The estate settlement plan for Kansas includes all filing dates in order.

SimplyTrust Editorial·Updated September 20, 2026

Legal Sources

Data sourced from Kansas statutes and official state code. How we research.

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