Arkansas Estate Income Tax and Form 1310: Filing for a Deceased Person

Arkansas has no estate tax and no inheritance tax — but it does have income tax, and when someone dies mid-year, income tax obligations don't disappear. The surviving spouse or estate administrator has to file final income tax returns for the deceased, and in some cases file ongoing returns for income the estate continues to generate during the administration period.

Most families handle this without difficulty, but a few Arkansas-specific rules create confusion — particularly around reclaiming an overpaid tax refund and the income tax treatment of estate assets.

The Final Individual Income Tax Return

In the year of death, the surviving spouse files a joint federal return (Form 1040) and a joint Arkansas individual income tax return covering both spouses' income from January 1 through the date of death. Filing jointly for the year of death almost always produces a lower tax bill than filing separately, so it's worth doing even if it requires gathering the deceased spouse's income records.

The Arkansas individual income tax return is filed with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Arkansas conforms to most federal individual income tax provisions, so the overall process closely mirrors the federal return.

A surviving spouse can file a joint return for the year of death without any special form or designation — they simply sign the return in the "spouse" signature line and note the spouse's death date on the return. If there is no surviving spouse, the personal representative (executor) must sign the return.

Claiming a Tax Refund After a Death: IRS Form 1310 and the Arkansas Equivalent

If the deceased person is owed a federal tax refund and there is no surviving spouse, the estate must file IRS Form 1310 (Statement of Person Claiming Refund Due a Deceased Taxpayer) to direct the refund to the estate rather than to the deceased individual.

For a surviving spouse filing a joint return, Form 1310 is generally not required for the federal return — the refund is issued to the surviving spouse. However, if the IRS questions the refund claim, Form 1310 may be requested.

For Arkansas state income tax refunds owed to a deceased person, the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration follows a similar process. If a deceased taxpayer is owed a state refund and there is no surviving spouse, the personal representative should submit:

• A copy of the death certificate
• The completed Arkansas income tax return showing the refund due
• Documentation of the personal representative's authority (Letters Testamentary or a completed Small Estate Affidavit, depending on the estate size)

The state will issue the refund to the estate's account for distribution through probate or the small estate process.

Estate Income Tax: When the Estate Earns Income

An estate that remains open for an extended period may continue to generate income — rental income from real property that hasn't sold, interest on bank accounts, dividends from stocks, or proceeds from business assets. This income belongs to the estate, not to the deceased, and it must be reported separately from the individual's final income tax return.

When an estate generates more than $600 in gross income in a tax year, it must file a federal fiduciary income tax return (IRS Form 1041, U.S. Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts). The estate files as a separate taxpaying entity using its own federal Employer Identification Number (EIN), which the personal representative obtains from the IRS.

Arkansas conforms to the federal approach. Estates that must file a federal Form 1041 also file an Arkansas fiduciary income tax return with the Department of Finance and Administration for the same income. The filing threshold mirrors the federal rule — if the estate has gross income of $600 or more in a calendar year, a state fiduciary return is due.

This ongoing filing obligation is one reason it pays to move through estate administration efficiently. The longer the estate stays open, the more filing obligations accumulate.

Practical Steps for the First Tax Year After a Death

Most surviving spouses in Arkansas have a straightforward tax path:

1. File a joint final return for the deceased spouse's last year, including all income earned before the death date
2. Include all estate income for the period before death on that final joint return (income generated after death belongs to the estate)
3. Apply for an EIN for the estate if the estate will earn income during administration (free and immediate at IRS.gov)
4. File Form 1041 and Arkansas fiduciary return for any calendar year in which the estate earns $600+ in income
5. Claim any income tax refund due to the deceased using the appropriate form and documentation

For estates that close within one calendar year and generate minimal income during administration, the fiduciary return requirement may not arise at all. A quick estimate of expected estate income — interest on the checking account, any rental income, dividends — tells you whether Form 1041 will be required.

When to Involve a CPA

The final income tax return for a deceased person is usually straightforward if the deceased had simple finances — wages or a pension, standard deductions, no business income. A surviving spouse who has filed joint returns before can typically handle this with tax preparation software.

A CPA becomes genuinely useful when:

• The deceased had business income, rental property, or partnership interests
• The estate will remain open for multiple years
• There are substantial investment gains or losses in the year of death
• The estate is large enough to raise questions about step-up in cost basis for inherited assets

Arkansas has no estate tax and no inheritance tax, so there is no state death tax return to file. The federal estate tax exemption is $13.99 million per individual in 2026, meaning virtually all Arkansas estates will not owe federal estate tax either.

All the Tax and Benefit Steps in One Place

The Arkansas Survivor Benefits Navigator includes a tax obligations checklist for the year of death and the administration period, organized alongside the property tax filings, pension notifications, and benefit applications that need to happen simultaneously. Having all of this in one place prevents the income tax steps from getting lost in the larger administrative workload.

This article provides general information about income tax obligations following a death in Arkansas. Consult a licensed CPA or tax attorney for advice specific to your estate situation.

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