What Is IRS Form 8022 for Estate Personal Property?

IRS Form 8022, the Personal Property Tax Statement, was a document historically used by the executor of an estate. It served as a detailed inventory of a decedent’s tangible personal property for federal estate tax purposes. This form is now obsolete and is no longer required or used by the Internal Revenue Service. The reporting functions it once served have been integrated into other parts of the main estate tax return, streamlining the filing process for executors.

Historical Purpose and Required Information

Form 8022 was designed to provide the IRS with a comprehensive and itemized account of a decedent’s tangible personal property. Executors were required to file it as a supplementary document to Form 706, the United States Estate (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return. The primary function was to ensure that all non-real estate assets were properly disclosed and valued, preventing undervaluation and ensuring the correct amount of estate tax was calculated.

The form demanded a detailed listing of all tangible personal property owned by the decedent at the time of death. For each item or logical group of items, the executor had to provide a complete description, its physical location, and its fair market value on the date of death. This level of detail allowed tax authorities to scrutinize the valuations presented.

Current Reporting on Form 706 Schedule F

The information that was once reported on the obsolete Form 8022 is now detailed directly on Schedule F of Form 706. This schedule, titled “Other Miscellaneous Property Not Reportable Under Any Other Schedule,” serves as the designated section for listing all of a decedent’s tangible personal property. This consolidation simplifies the estate tax return by incorporating the property details into the main form, eliminating the need for a separate statement.

Executors must use Schedule F to list all miscellaneous assets that do not belong on other specific schedules, such as those for real estate or stocks and bonds. The content required mirrors the historical standards, demanding itemized descriptions and valuations for all tangible personal property. This includes household goods, personal effects, vehicles, and collections. For any single item with a value exceeding $3,000, or any collection of similar items valued over $10,000, a copy of the written appraisal by a qualified expert must be attached to the return.

The official Form 706 and its accompanying instructions, which include Schedule F, can be downloaded directly from the IRS website. When completing the schedule, executors should group similar items together, such as “household furniture” or “clothing,” and provide a single value for the group, unless an individual item is particularly valuable. Clear descriptions and precise valuations are necessary to demonstrate compliance and facilitate the IRS’s review of the estate’s assets.

Submitting the Estate Tax Return

Once Form 706 and all its required schedules, including Schedule F, are completed, the executor must assemble the entire package for submission. This involves organizing the main form, all schedules in their proper order, and any necessary attachments. Required attachments include certified copies of the decedent’s will, trust documents, and the formal written appraisals for high-value personal property. The complete return must be filed within nine months of the decedent’s date of death, though a six-month extension can be requested by filing Form 4768.

The entire estate tax return package should be mailed to the address specified in the Form 706 instructions. Currently, the designated filing location for all Form 706 returns is the IRS service center in Kansas City, Missouri. Using a trackable mailing service is advisable to ensure proof of timely filing. The tax liability shown on the return is also due nine months after the date of death, regardless of whether a filing extension was granted.

After the return is submitted, the executor should retain a complete copy for the estate’s records. The IRS will process the return and may accept it as filed or select it for further examination, which could involve requests for additional information or clarification on the valuation of certain assets. The executor can expect to receive an estate tax closing letter from the IRS once the agency has accepted the return.