Your loved one’s social security number becomes inactive upon their passing. As previously discussed, as Personal Representative you are responsible for filing the decedent’s final tax returns and, if necessary, back tax returns. Those returns are filed under the decedent’s Social Security Number as they reflect activity prior to death.
However, all financial activity of the Estate occurs under a newly issued number called an EIN. This distinguishes financial activity of the Estate form financial activity of the decedent prior to passing. The Personal Representative will need the EIN to open a bank account in the name of the Estate. The EIN will be required for other financial transactions of the Estate as well, such as the sale of properties and vehicles. If the Estate is required to file a tax return, the return will be filed under the EIN Number.
An EIN Number may be obtained from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). As Personal Representative you have two options to obtain the EIN Number. The first option is to obtain IRS Form SS-4 and mail or fax it to the IRS. The second option is to apply online. Here is a helpful link to the online application for an EIN Number: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-id-numbers.