The IRS will no longer confirm that an estate's tax bill is settled

The IRS will stop issuing "estate tax closing letters" unless an estate specifically asks for one. This means executors will no longer automatically receive official confirmation that the IRS has finished reviewing an estate's tax return.

For decades, an estate tax closing letter was the official sign that an estate's tax obligations were settled. Without it, executors and beneficiaries might face uncertainty about whether the IRS could still demand more money. This change shifts the burden to the estate to actively request this confirmation, adding a small but significant procedural step to closing an estate.