Trust and Estate Burden Survey - Trust (4)

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Trust Income Tax Burden Survey

Your experience matters to us.

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Frequently Asked Questions
The purpose of this survey is to gather data about
the time and out-of-pocket costs you spent to prepare
the Tax Year 2017 Form 1041 Income Tax Return for
Estates and Trusts. This information will be used to
better understand and estimate the burden faced by all
fiduciaries who must file a Form 1041 income tax return
for a trust. Please be assured that you will not be asked
about income or other financial details.
When answering the questions, please think about
the activities associated with the trust’s Tax Year 2017
federal income tax return and/or any other federal
income-related tax return(s) for the trust. Do not answer
for any other tax returns filed for the same period, such
as Form 706 (U.S. Estate Tax Return) or Form 709
(United States Gift Tax Return).

Who should complete this survey?

The trust was randomly selected from the thousands of
trusts that filed a federal income tax return in 2017.

How will my answers be used?

Please be assured that your responses will be used for
research and aggregate reporting purposes only and
will not be used for other non-statistical or non-research
purposes such as direct enforcement activities.

Why should I participate?

While participation is voluntary, information about the
trust’s tax preparation experience will help the IRS reduce
taxpayer burden. We encourage you to take a few minutes
of your time to participate. By doing so, you will make
sure that this trust, and trusts that are similar to it, are
represented.

How long will this survey take?

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is
estimated to average 15 to 20 minutes, including the time
for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources,
gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing
and reviewing the collection of information.

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The individual most responsible for maintaining the
financial records for the trust or making the financial
and tax-related decisions for the trust should complete
this questionnaire. Generally, this person is the trustee.
Please feel free to consult with others to complete the
survey.

How was the trust selected for this survey?

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What is the Trust Income Tax Burden Survey?

Who can I contact with questions?

If you have questions about the content of this survey
please contact Leanne Purvis at Westat by phone at
1-855-462-3937 or send an email to [email protected].

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If you serve as trustee for more than one trust, please
see the address on the cover letter to determine to which
trust this survey applies. We will refer to this trust as “the
trust” throughout the survey.

Should I send this survey to my paid or
volunteer tax professional?

No, please do not forward this survey to your paid or
volunteer tax professional if you have one, because this
survey concerns time and money spent by you or your
organization, not theirs.

If you would like to speak to someone at the IRS, please
email Scott Leary at [email protected]. To read the
official IRS announcement regarding this survey, please
visit the following URL on the IRS website:
https://www.irs.gov/statistics/2017a-trust-income-taxburden-survey.

Web Survey Instructions

If you would prefer to complete the survey on the web, please follow the instructions below.
Web responses are processed more quickly and will help ensure that you don’t receive
follow-up contacts.

1.
2.

Go to the website.
To take the survey online, please go to:

www.IRS-TEITSurvey2017A.org

You will need the following PIN to
access the survey:

PIN: [PIN]

Log in.

Problems?

If you have any technical difficulties, including problems with the website, please call 1-855-462-3937 or
send an email to [email protected].

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Instructions:
Please use a black or blue pen to complete this form.
Mark

to indicate your answer.

If you want to change your answer, darken the box

and mark the correct answer.

Tax Preparation Methods and Activities

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Please Note: If you serve as trustee for more than one trust, please see the address on the cover
letter to determine to which trust this survey applies. We will refer to this trust as “the trust” throughout
the survey.
Please answer all questions with reference to the trust’s Tax Year 2017 federal income tax
return filing.

Mark all that apply.

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1. Which of the following methods did you use to prepare the trust’s Tax Year 2017 federal
income tax return?
a. Paper forms and instructions

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b. An outside tax professional (e.g., a CPA firm, trust company, bank, a tax attorney, an
enrolled agent, a registered tax preparer)
c. Tax preparation website or software (e.g., TurboTax®, H&R Block®, CCH®, custom software)
d. Other method(s), please describe:

2. For which of the following income tax-related activities did the trust engage a paid or
volunteer tax professional for Tax Year 2017?
Mark all that apply.

a. Bookkeeping or accounting services

b. Completing or revising trust legal documents
c. Handling legal claims against the trust
d. Financial planning services

e. Other trust-related activities, please describe:

f. Did not engage a paid or volunteer tax professional

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Time Spent On Tax-Related Activities
3. This question asks about all the time you spent on activities related to the trust’s Tax Year
2017 federal income tax return. These activities include completing, preparing, and
submitting the trust’s Tax Year 2017 federal income tax return and handling issues for one
or more of the trust’s previously-filed federal income tax returns.
Think about the time you spent on tax-related recordkeeping, tax planning, gathering taxrelated materials, learning about tax law, using IRS or non-IRS resources, preparing and
providing Schedules K-1, and calculating and depositing estimated tax payments.
Please include time spent:
On the trust’s federal income tax return as
well as any associated forms, schedules,
and worksheets that you completed or filed
Throughout the tax year as well as the tax
filing season, as applicable



Corresponding or speaking with paid or
volunteer tax professional(s), if any



By a paid or volunteer tax professional



On state or local income tax returns



On non-income tax returns, such as Form 709
(United States Gift Tax Return), or excise taxes



On foreign tax returns



On information returns other than the beneficiaries’
Schedules K-1 (e.g., Form 1099-MISC)

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

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

Please do NOT include time spent:

To prepare and provide beneficiaries’ K-1s

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3A. How much time did you spend on the following activities for the trust’s Tax Year 2017
federal income tax return? If you're not sure, please provide your best estimate.
1.

2.

3.

Tax recordkeeping, including reconciling financial and tax
records

:
Hours

Minutes

No time spent

:

Tax planning

Hours

Minutes

No time spent

Gathering materials, learning about tax law, and using IRS or
non-IRS resources

:
Hours

Minutes

No time spent
4.

Calculating, reviewing, and depositing estimated income tax
payments

:
Hours

Minutes

No time spent

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5.

Completing, reviewing, and submitting the trust’s federal income
tax return

:
Hours

Minutes

No time spent
6.

:

Calculating and reviewing distributions and accumulations
Hours

Minutes

No time spent
Preparing, reviewing, and issuing K-1s related to distributions
from the trust

:
Hours

Minutes

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7.

No time spent

Time during Tax Year 2017 to resolve issues with one or more
previously-filed trust federal income tax returns

:

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8.

Hours

Minutes

No time spent

Other federal income tax-related activities, please describe:

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9.

:

Hours

Minutes

No time spent

Costs Associated With Tax Compliance

Think about how much money the trust spent to comply with its federal income tax reporting
obligations. Costs associated with tax compliance are a very important part of assessing
burden, so please provide your best estimate.
4. How much money did the trust spend on all paid tax
professionals, including trustee compensation, for all
tax and tax-related service during Tax Year 2017?

4A. Of the amount in Question 4, how much was
spent only on the trust’s Tax Year 2017 federal
income tax planning and return preparation?

$

.
Dollars
No money spent

Cents

 Skip to

Question 5

$

.
Dollars

Cents

No money spent

Form

15073 (5-2018)

Catalog Number 71401X

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5. How much money did the trust spend on a tax
preparation website or software (e.g., TurboTax®,
H&R Block®, CCH®, custom software) to prepare its
Tax Year 2017 federal income tax return?

$
Dollars

Cents

No money spent

6. How much money did the trust spend during Tax Year
2017 on services related to resolving an IRS issue with
one or more previously-filed trust federal income tax
returns (IRS Exams, Collections, or Appeals)? Include
both trustee compensation and fees paid to other tax
professionals.

$

.
Cents

Dollars
No money spent

$

.

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7. How much money did the trust spend on other tax
activities related to the trust income tax reporting
requirements for Tax Year 2017? This may include
money spent on electronic submission, photocopies,
tax research services, tax publications and journals,
transportation, postage, or IRS user fees.

.

Cents

No money spent

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Additional Questions

Dollars

8. In how many states did the trust file state income tax returns
during the most recent tax year?

Number
of States

9. Did you serve as trustee or grantor for more than one trust in 2017?
Yes
No

Form

15073 (5-2018)

Catalog Number 71401X

irs.gov

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Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service

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10. How are distributions from the trust calculated?
Mark all that apply.
a. All distributable net income (DNI) must be distributed (simple trust)
b. Percentage of income
c. Trustee discretion (e.g., for beneficiary’s education, support, or medical expenses)
d. Beneficiary age

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e. Other, please describe:

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11. Considering all activities related to the trust’s federal income tax return, what do you
find to be the most difficult part of complying with IRS’s reporting regulations?

Thank You for Completing This Important Survey!

Form

15073 (5-2018)

Catalog Number 71401X

irs.gov

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Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service

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Privacy and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice for Trust Income Tax Burden Data Collection

The Privacy Act of 1974 states that when we ask you for information, we must first tell you our legal right to ask
for the information, why we are asking for it, and how it will be used. We must also tell you what could happen
if you do not provide it and whether or not you must respond under the law.
Our legal right to ask for this information is 5 U.S.C. 301.

The primary purpose for requesting the information is to analyze the role of taxpayer burden in tax administration.
We will also use the information to fulfill the IRS’ statutory obligations to the Office of Management and Budget
and Congress for information required by the Paperwork Reduction Act, and to provide tax policy analysis
support to the Office of Tax Analysis at the Department of the Treasury. We will also use the information provided
to better understand taxpayer needs and burden reduction opportunities.
Tax information may be disclosed only as provided by 26 U.S.C. 6103. Providing the information is voluntary.
Not providing all or part of the information requested may reduce our ability to address taxpayer concerns
regarding paperwork reduction.
OMB No: 1545-2212. This report is authorized under the Paperwork Reduction Act. Data collected will be shared with
IRS staff, but your responses will be used for research and aggregate reporting purposes only and will not be used for
other non-statistical or non-research purposes such as direct enforcement activities. The information that you provide will
be protected to the fullest extent allowable under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Public reporting burden for this
collection of information is estimated to average 15 to 20 minutes, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching
existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of
information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including
suggestions for reducing this burden, to Special Services Section,SE:W:CAR:MP:T:M:S, Room 6129, 1111 Constitution
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20224.

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