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General instructions on managing taxes and the estate's contact information
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Arrange for an authorised agent
Giving a letter of authorisation to an agent can make it easier to deal with taxes.
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Inform the Tax Administration of the address of the estate’s contact person
The estate’s shareholders must assume responsibility for keeping the address information up to date.
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Submit the estate’s bank account number
Make sure of having informed the Tax Administration of the estate’s bank account number for tax refunds.
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Pre-completed tax returns
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Check the estate’s pre-completed return
We send the estate a pre-completed income tax return every year in spring, up to the time when the estate ceases to exist.
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Tax refunds and back taxes
If the Tax Administration has the estate’s bank account number on file, we send the amount there.
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The estate’s income, expenses and taxes
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Selling the estate’s property and assets
Any sales must be reported to the Tax Administration. Read the instructions as appropriate for your circumstances.
Selling the estate’s property or inherited property – how to deal with taxes
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Rental income
When an estate rents out property and starts receiving rental income, the amount must be included in the estate’s income tax return.
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Real estate
When the estate is an owner of real estate, it is necessary to pay real estate tax.
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Farming, agriculture and forestry
When the estate operates agriculture or forestry, the estate has to submit tax returns on its initiative.
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Tax payment and collection
The deceased person’s taxes are paid with the estate’s assets.
Read more about paying the taxes of a deceased person and the death estate
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Income tax returns required of foreign estates
If the status of the deceased person’s estate is foreign estate, it must pay tax on its income from Finnish sources only. The tax return must be submitted on the estate’s initiative.
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When tax management is no longer necessary
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Making the death estate cease
Death estates cease to exist when they are distributed and when a photocopy of the deed of distribution is delivered to the Tax Administration.
Handling the taxes of a death estate
After the decedent’s death, the estate left behind is required to manage a number of tax affairs.
The parties that bear responsibility for the estate’s taxes are the shareholders, i.e. the heirs, the beneficiaries of a last will and testament, and the surviving spouse up to the time when distribution of matrimonial assets is completed. These parties must fulfil the estate’s tax obligations until the estate is distributed and treated as having ceased.
If you inherit only a specific asset by virtue of a last will and testament, you are not regarded as a party to the estate.
This page and the following pages provide useful information, support and guidance for handling the taxes of an estate.
Page last updated 2/7/2024