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Level 1
April 21, 2026
Question

Sale of a home in a complex irrevocable trust 2025

  • April 21, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 5 views

I am preparing the 1041 for a trust after the grantor passed away in August 2025. The trust assets include a bank account, two cars, a house, and household items.
The house was sold April 2026 for $760,000. The house was purchased in 1995 for $200,000 and had about $75,000 of renovations.
To calculate the capital gains tax on the sale of a home held in a complex irrevocable trust for federal and state tax purposes in California in 2026, what factors do I need to consider?

I could not find any language in the trust allowing me to use the step-up for the house's value at the time of death. How can I determine if the trust will owe taxes before any distributions are made to the beneficiaries?

There are 11 beneficiaries. I would like to understand the taxation process in this situation.

The house was purchased for $200,000 in 1995 and sold for $760,000. The adjusted basis is $760,000 minus $275,000, which equals $485,000.

1 reply

IRonMaN
Level 15
April 21, 2026

If the trust was revocable prior to death, you do have a step up in basis.  If the assets were in an irrevocable trust prior to death, you don't get the step up.

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