Help with IRS.?

Question

As short as I can make it, My Father was not a part of my life for the past 25 years. He died on Feb 4th of this year. He was a truck driver. As the only child, I was responsible for claiming his body, paying for the funeral etc. This I did, at my expense. There was no estate. There was no savings, no property; All he had to show for 63 years of work was the clothes in his apartment.

At the funeral, a friend of his, who had helped him over the years keep his books, pay his bill etc, came up to me with his tax return for last year (07)

She said to file it, as the next of kin I was entitled to what he got back, and it would help to pay for his bills that remained.

I did file it. A few weeks later the IRS requested a copy of the death certificate, which I sent in to them.

On May 21 I got a letter saying that the tax estimated had been revised, that now he owed such and such. That because he had claimed fuel tax as a tax credit, I need to provide the receipts to show this.

I do not have anything to show anyone. I called the ‘helper’ and she said she would send copies to the IRS.

This week I got a letter saying that they were ready to close the case and x amount of money was owed to the US Government.

I got the impression that they intend to hold me responsible for this.

Can they do this? My father was a widower there are no other family members. Can they hold me responsible for what ever he may have owed?

I don’t know what to do at this point. I have been in touch with the ‘helper’ again, she said she would get it the receipts to the right ones.

If she doesn’t what do I do?

Answer 1

get copies of the receipt sent to you and send them yourself. never trust other people (sad but true)

Answer 2

Contact IRS and explain that your father didn't have an estate and you were only filing return because you realized it had not been filed.  

You should not be responsible for his debt.

Just like you said it here tell IRS rep.  

sorry to hear this is what your dad left you with.

Answer 3

I would call an attorney on this situation.

I don't think you are responsible. As you did not inherit anything, all his remaining debts should have died with him.  You can only be held liable to pay what you inherited.  If you didn't... you don't pay.

Answer 4

It sounds like the return that was done was screwed up.  Fuel tax is not a credit, it's an expense.  God knows what other problems the return as.

In any case, you are not responsible for tax your late father owes (assuming he does.)  The bills are being sent to him care of you because your name is part of the address.  Call IRS and tell the representative that he died without any assets other than ordinary household goods.   If there is any estate, you would be entitled to be reimbursed for funeral expenses before any creditors are paid.

Answer 5

You are not responsible for anything unless he has some estate money to pay the taxes.  You should not have to pay the taxes.  If they did make you pay the tax, would it be called the "no estate tax?".

Answer 6

You are not responsible. It would come from his estate. If he has no estate it cannot be collected.