Scope sheet
finbryn.com
Estate & Trust
Form 706 estate tax return preparation support
Form 706 estate tax prep support from Finbryn builds the workpapers for a US estate: an asset schedule sorted onto the form's own schedules, appraiser-coordinated valuations, and deductions organized for a credentialed signer to review before filing. The 2026 basic exclusion amount, published annually by the IRS, applies, and the return is due within 9 months of death.
What is included
- An estate asset schedule organized by the Form 706 schedule it belongs on
- Valuation support filed against each schedule from the executor's appraiser or financial institution
- A threshold calculation checking gross estate plus adjusted taxable gifts against the current exclusion amount
- Deduction schedules for debts, administration expenses and charitable or marital bequests
- A portability election recommendation where the estate is below the filing threshold
- A draft Form 706 workpaper package handed to a credentialed signer
- A filing timeline tracked against the nine-month deadline from date of death
- A Form 4768 extension request prepared where more time is needed
The process
- 1.
Build the date-of-death asset inventory
Pulled from the fiduciary accounting ledger or built from the executor's records, sorted onto the schedule each asset belongs on.
- 2.
Request valuations
Coordinated with the executor's appraiser for real estate or closely held interests, and pulled directly for publicly traded securities and cash.
- 3.
Check the filing threshold
The gross estate plus adjusted taxable gifts is checked against the current basic exclusion amount before the engagement is scoped further.
- 4.
Build deduction schedules
Debts, funeral and administration expenses, and charitable or marital bequests each documented against their own supporting records.
- 5.
Assemble the draft return
All schedules populated and cross-checked against the asset inventory and the fiduciary accounting ledger.
- 6.
Route to the credentialed signer
The complete draft goes to an enrolled agent or CPA partner for review, with time built in before the nine-month deadline.
- 7.
File or extend
The signer files the return, or we prepare Form 4768 for the six-month extension if valuations or complex assets need more time.
Software
Excel, Drake Tax, UltraTax CS, QuickBooks Online
Pricing
Form 706 support is priced individually since the workload scales with the number of assets, whether a closely held business or out-of-state property is involved, and how many appraisals are needed. See /us/pricing for the tiers most fiduciary work falls under; larger estates typically move to the custom-quote Scale tier, and your fee is confirmed in writing once the estate's asset picture is known.
Finbryn is a brand of Northlane Solutions Inc., a Delaware corporation.
Reviewed September 2026