Death and taxes may be inevitable, but the paperwork, decisions, and surprises that follow can feel anything but predictable. I’ve been thinking about that a lot since my dad died. Even a seemingly straightforward estate can quickly become complicated once you start dealing with final tax returns, retirement accounts, old records, state rules, and the accumulated belongings of a lifetime.

One of the biggest surprises for some taxpayers is how much geography matters. With the federal estate tax exemption set at $15 million per person for 2026, most families will not owe federal estate tax. But state estate taxes, inheritance taxes, and probate costs can still catch heirs off guard, especially in states with lower thresholds, unusual rules, or fees that function like a hidden levy.

The income tax side can be just as important. A final Form 1040 may still be required, and death can also trigger estate or trust income tax returns, questions about income in respect of a decedent, refund claims, and executor responsibility for unresolved tax debts. Inherited retirement accounts add another layer, especially after the SECURE Act and SECURE 2.0 changed the old stretch IRA rules for many beneficiaries.

And then there is the stuff. Clothes, photographs, furniture, collectibles, records, boxes in the attic, and the things nobody knows quite what to do with. Some items may have financial value, some may have sentimental value, and some may create tax, appraisal, or charitable deduction questions. The same is true for old tax records: some can be shredded, but records tied to inherited property, basis, estate administration, final returns, and post-death filings may need to be kept.

Planning for death is never just about taxes. It is about helping the people left behind know what to file, what to keep, what to value, what to move, and—sometimes hardest of all—what to let go. To help you out, we’ve gathered all of our Death and Taxes coverage in one place to help make that process a little easier to understand.

Please keep sending your emails and messages. Your questions inspired this series—and who knows? You may just inspire the next one, too.

And your kind words have been so appreciated (for those of you who have asked, Mom is doing amazing).

Enjoy your long weekend,

Kelly Phillips Erb (Senior Writer, Tax)

This is a published version of the Tax Breaks newsletter, you can sign-up to get Tax Breaks in your inbox here.

This week, a reader asks:

My parents are helping me buy a new car by loaning me the money. They are charging me some interest. Is that interest deductible under the new tax law?

Probably not. OBBBA created a new temporary deduction for certain car loan interest, but it does not apply to all car loans. To qualify, the loan generally has to be for a new, qualifying personal-use vehicle, and the vehicle must meet the U.S. final assembly rules. The........

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